Polybutylene: In the 1970s, copper and plastic pipes became the main piping materials. Copper is still used, but not all types of plastic ended up enduring. A common type of plastic pipe used through the 1980s was polybutylene, which was an inexpensive pipe material useful for freshwater lines.
Polybutylene Pipes
Builders installed polybutylene (or poly) piping in an estimated 10 million U.S. structures between 1975 to 1996. Unfortunately, this piping material had a significant flaw that ultimately resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in water damage.
Orangeburg or Bermico piping was a fiber style pipe made from layer of wood fiber and pitch pressed together and was used up until the 1970's when PVC (poly vinyl chloride) piping came on the scene. Here in sunny South Florida cast iron pipe was the norm again until PVC became the new king in 1972.
What kind of plumbing pipes were used in the 70s? Plastic. Plastic plumbing pipes in the form of ABS and PVC became widely used in residential construction in the 1970s.
Polybutylene pipes were banned from new construction projects after 1995, but if they're already in your home, there is no requirement to remove them. This is important to know if you decide to purchase a home that was built between 1978 and 1995.
Selling a house with polybutylene pipes can be challenging due to the known issues and potential risks associated with these outdated plumbing systems. Polybutylene pipes, used in residential construction from the 1970s to the mid-1990s, have a history of failure, causing leaks and significant water damage.
Polybutylene Pipes
Polybutylene (PB) pipes were a popular choice for plumbing from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. In fact, as many as 10 million homes built during that timeframe included polybutylene piping of some kind.
Polybutylene pipes are at the end of their useful life. According to studies by Fannie Mae and HUD, domestic water supply systems in multifamily buildings reach the end of their useful life after 30 – 50 years.
In 1980, cast iron pipes were no longer the pipe of choice. Builders and plumbers replaced cast iron with rigid PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride plastic), which is easier to make, can be made quickly, is harder than other options, and has greater tensile strength. It is essentially a cheaper, faster alternative to cast iron.
It all depends on the geographic location of the home and the pipes. While homes with cast iron pipes laid in clay soil tend to be more likely to have corrosion, homes built in sandy soil often have pipes that last longer. Cast iron is durable and strong.
Orangeburg piping was no longer installed after PVC plastic replaced paper as the preferred material in 1972. By now, paper pipes are well past their prime. Once known as the “no-corrode” pipe, Orangeburg piping was appealing and affordable compared to other common materials like iron and steel at this time.
Water lines were copper and galvanized steel pretty much universally until the early 1970's. Starting in the mid 1970's, They put in a lot of PolyB which we all know the history of. Most of the underground pipe outside of the house was PVC.
Polybutylene (often abbreviated as PB) is a form of plastic that was used in residential plumbing systems from 1978 to 1995.
Overall, polybutylene pipes should not completely deter you from purchasing a home you love. You should, however, take some additional steps if you do decide to make a deal on a house with these types of pipes. Hiring a professional plumber is key to ensuring the pipes are still in good shape.
It has become expensive, can still corrode based on pH levels of water, and in cold climates, frozen water can cause copper pipes to burst. PEX installs quickly, which significantly reduces labor costs.
Leaks are inevitable with any plumbing system; however, polybutylene degrades faster than the rest of the approved piping list and in some areas the deterioration is significantly quicker. The lifespan of polybutylene piping is 15 years.
Beware of gray pipes: Polybutylene is a gray tube that carries potable water through many homes. PB is pretty much the only gray water pipe ever installed in homes. PB tubing found in homes will have a dimeter of 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, or 1 inch.
The cost to replace polybutylene pipes runs between $300 and $5,100, with the average homeowner spending $1,200 on polybutylene pipe replacement. Polybutylene pipes are no longer used in new construction because they are prone to defects, leaks, and pipe bursts.
Polybutylene was an immensely popular, cost-effective piping material for years between 1975 and 1996. It's estimated that around 10 million homes in the United States were outfitted with polybutylene pipes during their heyday.
The culprit is polybutylene (PB) pipes, which were used for plumbing purposes between the years of 1975 and 1978 until it was discovered that they become brittle and cracked over time, so they were subsequently outlawed.
Poly B™ (polybutylene) was a common type of plumbing material used to supply hot and cold water in residential and commercial buildings built between 1978-1995.
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.
It is recommended that if a home has polybutylene pipes, the entire plumbing system should be replaced immediately, as a costly leak can happen at any time, without warning, and cause large-scale damage.
If you are a seller, you should disclose all known conditions that the buyers need to know about the property including the likelihood of leaky pipes. If you decide to replace Polybutylene pipes in your home, that is good. But remember that many homebuyers are willing to take over risks that are fully disclosed.