Repipe
Symptoms That Might Mean You Need A Repipe
Frequent Leaks
If your home or commercial property is experiencing frequent
leaks it is a major indicator that it is time to repipe. Frequent
leaks are usually caused by old pipes or defective pipes, like
Polybutylene. Polybutylene should be replaced as soon as possible.
Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure is a
key indicator there is a problem within your pipeline. Low water
pressure can be caused due to a leaking pipe, corrosion or a
blockage of some sort. The most noticeable place for low water
pressure is usually the shower.
Rusty Or Discolored
Water
If the water coming from your facets or showers
is not clear and free flowing it is time to consider repiping.
Reddish water indicates your pipes are rusting. Not only could they
cause damage and leaks, it poses a health risk for you and your
family.
Neighboring Properties
You've
seen or heard about other properties of a similar age in your area
needing a repipe.
Repipe vs. Repairing Leaks
Small & minor pipe leaks can be patched with simple repairs. The
same goes with clogs and slow draining issues, they are easily
cleared, however a band-aid is not always the best solution.
When you find your pipes are causing continual problems you know it
is time to repipe. Repiping is much more cost effective than
continually repairing pipes only to discover the temporary fix has
caused extensive damage. Remember your pipes are under pressure, and
your water will find other holes in the pipe. Once the band-aid is
applied you will increase pressure and other holes will be created.
What is Polybutylene?
Polybutylene is a
plastic resin used to manufacture water pipes from 1975 to 1996.
Inexpensive and easy to install, polybutylene pipes were used
extensively in the construction of new homes in place of copper
pipes.
These are typically gray or white in color with a dull finish
Polybutylene Pipes Failed
Soon after
polybutylene plumbing became popular, the piping began to fail
without warning, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage
to people's homes. Failure was later attributed to interaction
between the pipes and chlorine in public water systems, which caused
the pipes to become brittle. Several municipalities and states
banned the use of polybutylene piping because of its poor quality.
How to Tell If You Have Polybutylene?
Exterior - Polybutylene underground water mains are usually blue,
but may be gray or black (do not confuse black poly with
polyethelene pipe). It is usually 1/2" or 1" in diameter, and it may
be found entering your home through the basement wall or floor,
concrete slab or coming up through your crawlspace; often it enters
the home near the water heater. Your main shutoff valve is attached
to the end of the water main. Also, you should check at the water
meter that is located at the street, near the city water main. It is
wise to check at both ends of the pipe because we have found cases
where copper pipe enters the home, and poly pipe is at the water
meter.
Interior - Polybutylene used inside your home can be
found near the water heater, running across the ceiling in
unfinished basements, and coming out of the walls to sinks and
toilets. Warning: In some regions of the country plumbers used
copper "stub outs" where the pipe exits a wall to feed a fixture, so
seeing copper here does not mean that you do not have Polybutylene.