Should I buy a home with polybutylene pipe

Should I buy a home with polybutylene pipe? Selling a home with Polybutylene?

Decreased Value- Polybuylene pipes are not desirable for home buyers. The pipes have a track record of failure and a well deserved bad reputation. Most home inspectors now red flag polybutylene during walk through inspections. Not to many people want there home to have a ticking time bomb in the wall. Polybutylene pipes in a home can decrease the value of a home by up to 10%. Example: if you had a $300,000 home and spent $7,000 to replacing the piping , you would have a net gain of $23,000, an improvement worth doing. A typical 2.5 bath house ranges from $3500-$7000 to do a complete turn key pipe replacement.

Increased Time on the Market- An interested buyer will normally have there home inspector check for polybutylene pipes before closing. Polybutylene pipes can be a reason to cancel a contract if not disclosed. The site of polybutylene pipes cause many buyers to lose interest immediately, most homeowners in the Atlanta area have had there polybutylene pipes replaced or know someone who has had polybutylene replaced. A local realtor estimated that over 50% of contracts fall through if an agreement is not reached over the polybutylene pipes, whether it be decreased selling price or a repipe completed before moving into the home.

Insuring a Home with Polybutylene Plumbing- Many home warranty will deny your claims, cap your damage limits or deny coverage on polybutylene related damages. Some insurance companies will not insure your house for flood damage with polybutylene plumbing, others will cancel your policy after one major pipe failure.

What are the Chances of my Polybutylene Leaking?- The chances of a pipe leak increase with time. Most initial leaks that occur within the first 5 years, in my opinion are due to improper installation. The following chart is an approximate chance based solely on field experience.
Age of Polybutylene Pipes in Home Chance of a Leakage
5 years, Line: Meter to House 10%
10 years, Line: Meter to House 30%
20 years, Line: Meter to House 90%
5 years, Interior Distribution Piping 5%
10 years, Interior Distribution Piping 10%
20 years, Interior Distribution Piping 60%

The following table is for an average home with an approximate 100ft service line. Many factors including linear feet of piping, installation, ground conditions can affect the service life of the pipe.

How Long does it take to replace the polybutylene pipes in a home? The average interior replumbing with drywall and paint can take from 2 to 7 days. The average exterior service line can be replaced in less than one day. In most cases, during a repipe water service can be restored to at least one full bathroom at the end of each day.



Polybutylene Class Action Settlement

Pipe Materials: Polybutylene, Copper, CPVC, PVC, PEX, Cast Iron,

Pipe Material with most popular applications and probable life span in non corrosive water
Polybutylene (PB): Potable Water Distribution, Water Service Lines, 8-25 years
Chlorinated Polyvinylchloride (CPVC): Potable Water Distribution, Water Service Lines, Sewer Service Lines, Common Household Drains, Air Vents 15-25 years
Polyvinylchloride (PVC): Potable Water Distribution, Water Service Lines, Sewer Service Lines, Common Household Drains, Air Vents, 15-50 years, Drains lines
will last longer due to minimal pressure

Polyethylene (PE): Water Service Lines, Sewer Service Lines, Gas Service Lines 20-50 years

Cross Linked Polyethylene (PEX): Water Distribution Piping 20-25 years
Copper Tube: Water Distribution, Water Service Lines 20-60 years

Galvanized Steel: Water Distribution, Water Service Lines 15-80 years (rusty water may occur early on)

Contact us for polybutylene pipe information

Polybutylene Class Action Settlement for Polybutylene Water Service Lines

The polybutylene class action settlement for water service lines was over as of last July. The settlement is still going on for interior claims. Regardless of whether the pipe was blue or grey polybutylene the homeowner now must pay out of pocket for the replacement. The standard time period for the replacement of yard service lines was 10 years with an additonal year to file a claim under the class action settlement. See our web site for more information on polybutylene plumbing pipe replacement.

Hot Water Pipe Leaks

In the past year, we have encountered at least 15 house in the Marietta, GA area with leaks on the copper piping below the slab. (Houses were over 25 years old) 14 out of 15 houses the leak was on the hot water piping. We have done some research and there are many different theories on the issue. Some plumbers suggest that old water heaters anode rods dissolve and there is not protection for the water heater or piping. One for definite reason hot water pipe failure is thermal expansion and contraction. Temperature changes on hot water lines may range from 50 degrees after a day of no use up to 120 degrees after using the hot water. Therefore the pipe flexes and may rub on rough objects in the soil. We have seen slab leaks on CPVC, Polybutylene, Copper, and PEX even within just years of new installation. Copper pipe still remains to be the most reliable piping for under slab applications.