Nobody wants to come home to find water pouring out of their ceiling or coming out of the base of their wall.
Nobody wants to come home to find water pouring out of their ceiling or coming out of the base of their wall. Unfortunately, if you have a pipe that breaks, this could very quickly happen. Some pipes are much more prone to cracking and breaking than others. If your home was created between the years of 1978 and 1995, then it could be at risk. This is because your house might contain polybutylene pipes. What exactly are polybutylene pipes, and why should you reconsider re-piping them if you have them? Here ‘s some helpful information that you should know.
What Exactly are Polybutylene Pipes?
Polybutylene pipes are water supply piping that was made from plastic resin between the years of 1978 and 1995. Because of their low costs, resistance to freezing, flexibility, and ease of installation, they were used as a substitute for your traditional copper pipes within home constructions during this period. Polybutylene pipes are easy for a plumbing professional to identify, but a few homeowners mix them up with PVC or polyethylene. Pipe sizes are usually around ½” to 1” in diameter. They’re normally grey, but can also be found in black, silver, blue or white.
Why Aren’t Polybutylene Pipes Reliable Anymore?
Unfortunately, as promising as polybutylene piping looked when it entered the housing market, it did not last. Fewer than twenty years after it’s introduction, allegations began to surface that the pipes were bursting and causing costly water damage. Studies showed that particular chemical and disinfectants contained within the water were causing the polybutylene to flake and develop smaller fractures from within. Over time, these fractures worked their way to the surface of the pipe, which in turn causes the pipes to fail. The pipe manufacturers alleged that these leaks were being caused by pipes being improperly installed. They also argued that they were mainly occurring at the unions and the joints.
Why You Should Replace Polybutylene Pipes
Because polybutylene pipes develop damage over time and can burst and flood without any warning, you should have your home re-piped if you’ve got this kind of piping. Even if your pipes were installed at the end of the period that they were on the market, they’re now more than twenty years old and are unreliable.
For any questions regarding polybutylene pipe removal, give the folks at Alpha Plumbing a call!
A RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PLUMBING COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST
Alpha Plumbing is a full-service plumbing and contracting company serving the Baltimore and Annapolis metro area with expertise in all aspects of plumbing. We’re family-owned and operated since 1991 from our office in Pasadena. We offer quality plumbing services at reasonable rates in a timely fashion. Our trucks are equipped with GPS systems to ensure we’re prompt and on time. No job is too large or too small! We maintain a fleet of well-stocked trucks and also own and operate our own backhoes for jobs requiring excavation.
For more information and to get a free no-obligation estimate, you can contact us on our website, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (410) 255-5998.