Yes, you can buy a house with polybutylene (Poly-B) pipes, but it requires careful negotiation, as these pipes are known to be defective and prone to sudden bursting. They pose significant challenges for obtaining homeowners insurance and passing lender requirements.
Polybutylene Pipes Should Be Replaced
Leaking can happen without warning and can result in flooding and serious damage to a home's interior if it is not immediately stopped. PB pipes installed behind sheetrock can leak unnoticed for long periods of time and cause mold and water damage.
Homeowners insurance typically does not cover polybutylene (PB) pipes. Insurers classify them as high-risk due to a history of defects and leaks. While some companies may offer coverage, they will generally exclude water damage, add surcharges, or require you to completely replace the plumbing system.
Legally, in most places, you're required to disclose the presence of polybutylene plumbing if you know it's there. If you don't, and the buyer finds out during inspection, it could derail the sale or lead to a price cut.
Polybutylene pipes typically last 10 to 15 years. Because manufacturing of this piping ceased in the mid-1990s, any remaining systems have exceeded their lifespan and are on borrowed time.
Yes, polybutylene (PB) pipe absolutely needs to be replaced. Widely used between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, PB pipes degrade and become brittle when exposed to oxidants and chlorine in public water supplies. Because they are prone to sudden, catastrophic ruptures, most plumbers consider it a matter of "when" they will fail, not if.
PMRs for malignancies of the stomach, kidney, brain, and lymphopoietic system were also elevated, especially among plumbers. Chronic rheumatic heart disease, emphysema, liver cirrhosis, and all external causes of death were the major non-cancer causes with significantly elevated PMRs.
Extent of Replacement
If your whole home uses polybutylene pipes and it's 2,000 square feet or more, you might spend up to $15,000 to replace everything. On the other hand, replacing polybutylene pipes on a single fixture can be much more affordable. On average, repiping a single fixture runs between $70 and $1,000.
What Not to Fix When Selling a House: A Comprehensive Guide
These brass transition fittings have color-coordinated collars on their ends to identify which side goes with which pipe. The gray collar of this push-to-connect transition coupling is compatible with polybutylene pipe and the tan collar end is compatible with PEX, CPVC, PE-RT, SDR-9 HDPE, and copper pipes.
If you have polybutylene (PB) pipes, the safest course of action is to replace them immediately. These pipes, common from 1978 to 1995, are prone to sudden failure, cracking, and leaking due to reactions with chlorine in water, often causing significant water damage.
Avoid making guesses or unsupported statements about what caused the damage to your property. Speculating can lead to inaccuracies in the adjuster's report, potentially affecting your claim.
Our Recommendation. Based on the fact that all cast iron sewer pipes will need to be replaced, we strongly recommend that cast iron pipe under a concrete slab be replaced and not repaired. In fact, we have decided we will no longer locate or spot repair any sewer leaks on a cast iron system.
Used from 1978 to 1996 in up to 10 million garden style apartment and condominium communities and single-family homes, polybutylene was initially a popular alternative for domestic supply and fire sprinkler systems due to its low cost and ease of installation.
The average price of poly-b replacement is usually between $5,000 and $15,000. Although this is a considerable investment it can save you spending even more when dealing with damages from a burst pipe. It also gives you the peace of mind in knowing an inevitable leaking or burst pipe is no longer on the horizon.
PEX tubing has thicker walls than PB tubing.
Although both types of tubing achieved the same pressure rating of 100 psig @ 180°F (690 kPa @ 82°C), the thicker wall of PEX gives better mechanical strength and resistance to damage.
Since demand outweighs supply, housing prices are higher, and homes sell faster. Meanwhile, the worst months to sell a house are November through March or during the fall to winter, when potential buyers are preoccupied with holiday plans. Sellers should expect lower sales prices and higher DOM during these months.
Factors that decrease property value the most fall into three main categories: location issues, structural damage, and poor neighborhood conditions. These factors can collectively slash a property’s value by 5% to 30% or more.
The biggest red flag in a home inspection is compromised structural integrity, frequently caused by hidden water damage or foundation issues. While minor electrical or plumbing fixes are easy to manage, structural failures compromise the safety of the entire home and can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.
It's a common question, and the answer is that it depends on the insurance provider. In general, insurance companies do not provide coverage within homeowners insurance policies for polybutylene pipes. They are simply too much of a liability as they are easily damaged and will break down, burst, and damage the home.
Yes, you can buy a house with polybutylene pipes, but do not do it without negotiating a price reduction or having the seller replace the pipes prior to closing. Polybutylene (a gray or sometimes blue plastic pipe used from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s) is highly prone to sudden, catastrophic failures because oxidants in public water make the material brittle over time.
10 Things That Your Plumber Wishes You Knew
In November 1954, Albert Einstein famously expressed admiration for the plumbing profession, stating that if he were a young man again, he "would rather choose to be a plumber in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available."
OSHA's "Fatal Four" are the leading causes of death in the construction industry, responsible for over 60% of worker fatalities. These hazards are Falls, Struck-by incidents, Electrocutions, and Caught-in or -between accidents.