From piping hot water into your morning shower to empowering you to tackle that growing pile of after-dinner dishes, piping and plumbing are instrumental in turning your multi-level box of drywall and family photos into a home. But do you know what kind of pipe moves water through your walls?
Until a crack damages the ceiling or a leak creates a breeding ground for mould, piping is often overlooked. And, if your home has poly-b pipes, there is added risk that you should be aware of as a homeowner.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to identify poly-b and why you should replace it.
What is a poly-b pipe?
Polybutylene (poly-b) was a cost-effective alternative to copper that is no longer used in modern builds or renovations. Favoured for their affordability, plumbers installed these flexible pipes in homes across the Lower Mainland from 1973 to 1999.
As poly-b pipes rose in popularity, their issues became more prevalent. Because of these issues, the National Research Council removed polybutylene from the list of accepted plumbing and piping materials in the National Plumbing Code of Canada.
Today, more than 700,000 homes still use these pipes.
If you’re not sure what type of piping is in your house, look for grey plastic pipes anywhere with exposed piping, such as under the kitchen sink or in the ceiling of an unfinished basement. Polybutylene pipes feature blue numbers and letters and often sport plastic fittings, though copper fittings are not uncommon.
What are the dangers of poly-b pipe?
Unlike copper or PEX, poly-b pipe deteriorates from the inside. High water pressure and heat strain poly-b pipes while trace amounts of chlorine in the water erode the piping from within. Small cracks, often found near the fittings, can leak and cause mould to grow behind your walls.
And, if left unchecked, poly-b pipes can rupture and cause significant damage. Most poly-b pipes leak after seven to nine years.
Poly-b pipe can also impact your homeowner’s insurance. As polybutylene is no longer an approved piping material in Canada, some insurance companies have water claim deductibles as high as $10,000, while others won’t cover homes with poly-b piping at all.
In the end, the cost of repairing flood damage and dealing with your insurance provider far outweighs the replacement costs.
What should you do if your home has poly-b pipes?
You should definitely look into getting them replaced, the sooner the better. Delaying could be leaving you open to leaks, major ruptures or mould growth.
At Tap 2 Drain, we’ve replaced poly-b piping for more than 70 homeowners from Surrey to Chilliwack. With more than 10 years of experience, we’ll take care of your home and get you a new plumbing system in no time.
And, after replacing your pipes, we call in our drywall experts to restore your walls and ceilings as if we were never there.
Ready to replace your poly-b pipes or want to learn more about the process? Call us at 1-866-921-3357 or reach out to us online.