Polybutylene Pipes

Good information from Brenda DeArmond

Poly leaks have made havoc in some homes. You could be out for the evening and a pipe could burst in their homeand destroy your home. Polybutylene was installed in more than six million homes during the 80's and early 90's. Pipes leaked in thousands of homes across the United States. Lawsuits were filed. Many of these suits were grouped into a Class Action. In 1995, two manufactures of the raw material used to make polysettled a case and agreed to a $950 million settlement. A third manufacturer settled the case by establishing a fund that may provide a 10% reimbursement for property owners with acetal insert fittings, and a leak is not required.

What do you do if this is in your home? Check for a gray plastic pipe under sinks or in exposed areas in the basement or attic. Call a plumber if you are not sure or if you suspect you have this in your home. The cost to replumb a home is just a few thousand dollars and it takes less than a week.

I ran into this situation recently here in Florida and found out that a lot of insurance companies will not insure a home if they know it contains polybutylene.