Occasionally during home inspections in Virginia Beach I will come across a house that has Polybutylene as its plumbing system. I inform the clients that there is a history with this product and provide them additional information so that they are aware of what is in the house they are looking to purchase. It is highly advisable to have this system replaced due to its rate of failure, but that is a decision a homeowner has to make.
What is Polybutylene
Polybutylene (PB) is a plastic manufactured between 1978 and 1994 for use as piping in home plumbing systems. It offered plenty of advantages over other materials such as flexibility, ease of installation, resistance to freezing, and it was inexpensive. Pipes made from polybutylene were installed in 6 to 10 million homes in the Unites States during that period. Despite its strengths, production was ceased in 1994 after scores of allegations surfaced claiming that polybutylene pipes were rupturing and causing property damage. In the homes that still contain this material, homeowners must either pay to have the pipes replaced or risk a potentially expensive plumbing failure.
How Does Polybutylene Fail?
Although it has never been scientifically proven, many believe that oxides from chlorine in public water react with the polybutylene and cause it to flake apart. Small fractures deepen over time and eventually work their way to the pipe exterior, allowing the water to escape. PB manufacturers such as Shell Oil and Dupont De Nemours maintain that the leakages reported are a result of improper installation, rather than the presence of any defects in the material itself. Manufacturers cite the fact that the majority of leaks occur at joints and unions, which is where a leak would likely appear if a pipe were improperly installed. Regardless of the cause, class action lawsuits filed against PB manufacturers have been successful and resulted in immense payouts to homeowners. The largest such claim was a $1 billion settlement paid by Shell Oil to select homeowners.
Polybutylene Pipes Should Be Replaced
Although no regulations require the replacement of polybutylene pipes with those made from other materials, many plumbers recommend this action, which can cost several thousand dollars. Leakage happens without warning and results in flooding and serious damage to a home’s interior if it is not immediately stopped. PB pipes behind sheetrock can leak unnoticed for long periods of time and cause mold and water damage. InterNACHI believes it is far cheaper to replace polybutylene pipes before they fail and release their contents onto floors, appliances and furniture. They can also reduce a home’s value or prolong its time on the market. Homeowners might face higher insurance premiums or be denied coverage entirely.
Identifying Polybutylene
Usually stamped with the code “PB2110”;
- Flexible and sometimes curved, unlike rigid piping materials such as copper;
- Not used for waste, drain or vent piping;
- Most commonly grey in color, but they can also be white, silver, black or blue. Blue PB is used primarily outdoors and should only be used to carry cold water. Inspectors should be aware that black or white pipes might not be polybutylene (they might be polyethylene or PVC, respectively). Also, PB color is somewhat region-dependant than PB. It can withstand higher temperatures than polyethylene.
Make sure your Virginia Beach home inspector informs you of what kind of plumbing you have in the home you want to purchase.
