Polybutylene piping is a low-cost piping formed of plastic resin used for water pipe. It is commonly gray, white, blue or sometimes black in color. Blue Poly piping is employed as a substitute for copper piping in underground water mains. Due to the ease of installing interior polybutylene piping, it was used in the construction of millions of homes throughout the U.S. between 1978 and 1995; however, it has been discovered that as polybutylene pipe ages and reacts with water-soluble oxidants, it begins to degrade and can leak, causing severe damage to the surrounding building structure.
The presence of polybutylene pipe can severely affect a home’s value on the real estate market. Polybutylene pipe generally takes 10-15 years to begin to show signs of severe deterioration; therefore it is important to know what problems can be caused by its presence, and what can be done about it before it does pose a risk.
Problems with Polybutylene
Although some polybutylene piping problems stem from improper installation, most complaints are with the integrity of the piping itself. Polybutylene pipe is known to deteriorate due to contact with oxidants normally found in public water supplies. The failure can occur in the plastic fittings or in the pipe itself. A main concern regarding polybutylene pipe is that, since the oxidants are carried in the water, the pipe deteriorates from the inside. This makes it very difficult to determine if the pipe is truly in good condition. Most home inspectors cannot give a reliable assessment on the condition of polybutylene piping unless there is a visible problem with the exterior of the pipe or its installation. In addition, when a leak occurs, it may be extremely severe because the deterioration occurs from within.
Polybutylene-Atlanta-Plumber
Information on Polybutylene,Polybutylene replacement, and the repipe process.