Identifying Polybutylene Pipes

Polybutylene pipes became common in new construction in the second half of the 1970s and were eventually banned in the mid 1990s due to a tendancy to break down over time.

Initially, polybutylene pipes were popular due to a combination of factors including price, ease of isntall and repair and the fact that they don’t corrode. However, due to the chemical makeup of these pipes, chlorine and other chemicals often found in municipal water will eventually cause degradation to the point of failure.

Polybutylene pipes are typically grey, blue, silver or black, sometimes say PB2110 on them and were usualyl made between 1977 and 1997. Pictured are pipes Royal Flush Plumbing removed from a house during a residential repipe job.

Initially, polybutylene pipes were popular due to a combination of factors including price, ease of isntall and repair and the fact that they don’t corrode. However, due to the chemical makeup of these pipes, chlorine and other chemicals often found in municipal water will eventually cause degradation to the point of failure.

Pictured above is a Royal Flush plumber installing new water supply lines in a house from which PB pipes were removed.

Often times, an insurance company won’t insure a house that has polybutylene pipes and they can also make a house either hard to sell and/or bring the price down by many thousands of dollars. More importantly, if you have PB pipes in your house, pipe failure and leakage is a matter of when, not if.

Call or e-mail us anytime, day or night and we’ll gladly discuss options for replacing your water supply lines. We’re also here for any other plumbing need you may have.