What a Home Owner Should Know About Polybutylene Pipes

When constructing, most people aim at finding ways to save money while getting quality structures. This has been successful throughout the history but not always. In the history of plumbing, problematic pipes were designed between 1970s and 1990s. Polybutylene pipes also known as poly B, caused serious problems to thousands of home owners. It was an affordable option and thus many homeowners who were constructing during the period opted for it. It is easily identifiable due to its unique grey color. There are homes which still have poly B and it is important to know basic things about it to avoid plumbing nightmares.

Issues with Poly B piping

Sensitivity to Disinfecting Chemicals

It is obvious for water treatment facilities to add chemicals to portable water supplies in order to clean the water. These chemicals are used to destroy dangerous germs and bacteria to make it fit for human and plants, and animals consumption. The unfortunate things are that poly B could not withhold sensitive chemicals and prolonged exposure to them would flake the pipe inside out. This led to leaks and ruptures over time. The parts from the breakdown could also enter the water and pose health threats.

Lawsuit

Poly B became a serious issue for many homeowners such that lawsuits were filed against its manufacturing. Many homeowners had issues related to poly B and experienced loses and damages due to its failure. The surprising thing is that there are some home owners whose plumbing system still has some parts made of poly B. they are at risk or getting health issues from the parts that pass through water to their homes. To prevent these health issues and possible legal problems, any home owner should consider poly B replacement from a local plumber who understands your plumbing needs.

Faulty Fittings

In most cases, poly B piping was fixed using plastic fittings which could slide over the plastic to metal rings. This made them unreliable and prone to cracking over time. Fitting issues could also be caused by installation errors. The fine line between could either be too tight or loose causing fittings to be secured too tightly and leading to leakage. So if your plumbing works leaks in the wall and your home was built in 1990s it is important to seek professional opinion from a qualified plumber to determine if you have poly B.

Inspection of Poly B Piping

A number of home owners still have poly b and thus it is important let inspection companies to check if your home is one of them. It is important to know the type of piping you have in order to be informed and equipped with the knowledge of what to do in case of a problem.  Although you might not be experiencing troubles currently, it is crucial to be informed because you never know when the problem could arise. Inspection helps in identification poly B and potential failures to offer appropriate solution.

In conclusion, every homeowner in North American whose home was built 1990s should be careful. They should hire professional plumbers to help them determine whether they have poly B piping. It is important to be informed in order to seek relevant help. The best option is replacing poly B pipes with modern pipes to improve the health of your family. Additionally this saves you from incurring hefty costs and massive damage and loses.