Polybutylene Pipe Repair & Replacement in Jupiter 

In the late 1970s, there was a high degree of optimism that this plastic resin–polybutylene–could be a lower-cost replacement to copper piping. Manufactured under the brand name Qest, polybutylene was approved for building codes and seen as being made of quality material. It brought lower costs to homeowners and the ease of installation helped contractors save significant time. It seemed like a perfect solution. The Sun Belt region, along with the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest, were boom areas for polybutylene piping. 

It was the 1990s when problems with leaks started to occur. A study from the University of Illinois-Chicago, one of the top research schools in the country, showed that polybutylene had negative interactions with the pipe itself, leading to flaking, erosion, and cracking. By 1995, polybutylene pipes were no longer being manufactured and class-action lawsuits were being launched. Our current building codes in the United States do not allow for polybutylene piping. 

That’s how we got here. That’s why you might be looking for polybutylene repiping services, and it’s why the current problems were probably inevitable, given the history of this product. 

How Do I Know If I Have Polybutylene Pipes?

The first place to look is in your bathrooms and kitchen, particularly any pipes that connect to the sink and toilets. It’s also important to check the pipes in the basement utility room, near the water heater, and in any crawl spaces. If the basement is unfinished, take a look at what’s running across the ceiling. 

When you check outside the house, go to the water meter at the street, the main shutoff valve, and the entry point to the basement. 

You will be looking to see if any of the pipes in these areas have the following characteristics:

• Polybutylene pipes will be stamped PB2110. It’s also possible that the original brand name of Quest will be stamped on there. Bow Super-Flex is another possible brand name. 
• They will be anywhere from ½ inch to 1 inch in diameter.
• They will only be used for the water supply itself, rather than drains or vents.
• The color is typically – though not always – gray, blue, black, or white

It can be easy for a layman to confuse polybutylene pipes with other forms of plastic pipes. 

Here are some clues that the pipe you’re looking at is not polybutylene:

• If the pipes are PEX, they will usually be either red or blue (for hot and cold). That’s not universally true, but it is a tipoff. If the pipe is clear, make sure that “PEX” is not stamped on them. 
• A CPVC pipe will be cream-colored with a yellow stripe. They tend to be used as a lower-cost alternative to copper. 
• A PVC pipe should never be confused with polybutylene. PVC is used for drainage, waste, and vents, whereas polybutylene directly handles water supply. 

A Jupiter polybutylene plumber from our office can identify your pipes. Call us today at (561) 933-5212 or contact us online.