December, 2003
Plumbing
Concerns
Part One of Three: Polybutylene Piping
We have all heard about Polybutylene
piping. But what is it? Why do we always hear about problems with it? And is
it still a problem? Polybutylene piping has caused a lot of headaches, but
still has come a long ways since it was initially introduced. Let’s take a
closer look at it and see what all the fuss is about.
What is it?
Polybutylene piping is a gray or blue non-rigid water supply piping.
Production and sale of this piping began in 1977. It was and still is widely
used because it is relatively inexpensive and easier to install than
traditional copper or even C-PVC water piping. The original joints utilized
an acetal resin (an adhesive) with crimp rings to secure the pipes to the
metal fitting.
What is the problem?
The
problems started surfacing in the early 1980’s in the form of leaks and
ruptures of the piping. The majority of these leaks occurred at the pipe
joint fittings. The manufacturers of Polybutylene piping concluded that the
majority of the leaks were the fault of improper installation. They believe
that many plumbers used improper fittings to join the pipes and that the use
of semi-skilled laborers has led to improper pipe joint installation. This
may have contributed to the problem, but given the amount of problems seen,
many feel strongly that there is more to it than shoddy workmanship. One
current theory is that chemicals in the public water supply react with the
piping and acetal resin in the fittings, weakening the pipes and joints..
What was the result of the problems?
Class action lawsuits against the Polybutylene piping manufacturers began in
the 1980’s. The largest lawsuit to date was Cox vs. Shell Oil, in 1995,
which resulted in a settlement fund near $1 billion. The manufacturers
started a third-party administrator known as the Consumer Plumbing Recovery
Center to handle the individual settlements. Additionally, the manufacturers sponsor the
Plumbing Claims Group, which replaces the plumbing in homes with
Polybutylene pipe leaks.
What have the manufacturers done to correct the problems?
There were two major design differences created to correct the problems.
First they changed the design of the pipe joint fittings. Now they are
joined with a piece of copper tube with the pipe affixed to it by means of a
crimped copper ring at each end. Also, the manufacturers changed the
plumbing schematics to eliminate the
majority
of the “T” unions, since most problems occur at the joints. The new method
utilizes a central manifold from which all the pipes originate. However,
some in the industry are still leery about this product and suggest that
these design alterations are not enough to solve the problem.
How does Polybutylene Piping affect the home buying process?
Unfortunately it makes the decision to buy a house that has Polybutylene
piping a lot more complicated. It can not be overstated that the condition
of a Polybutylene system cannot be determined in the course of a normal home
inspection, since virtually all of the system is hidden behind walls. Even if
the home has this kind of plumbing there is no single course of action that
is yet recommended for consumers with a Polybutylene system. Homebuyers
should be aware that problems might occur, and should arm themselves with as
much information as possible about the Polybutylene system in the house.
Click here for more information from the
Consumer Plumbing Recovery Center Web site.
Click here for more information more about
Polybutylene piping.
Click here for more information about
plumbing in general.
Contributed by Justin Gore
Quality Assurance Supervisor
U.S. Inspect, LLC
and
Michelle Adler
Senior Specialist, GHI Network
U.S. Inspect, LLC
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