From 1978 to 1995, polybutylene was THE piping material for builders all across the country. Lightweight, easy to install and most of all, cheap; it was widely hailed as the future of piping for new home construction.
After about 10 years, however, polybutylene pipes everywhere started to fail. And we don’t just mean they developed little pinhole leaks that needed to be patched up. The problem with polybutylene pipes is the material is sensitive to many of the chemicals that fortify municipal water supplies. Over time these chemicals, chlorine in particular, began to attack the polybutylene piping and fittings. This led to some spectacular pipe failures around the country – pipe failures that in many cases did many thousands of dollars worth of damage!
Polybutylene pipes are gray in color and you should be able to see them near your water heater or leading to your sinks or toilets. If you find you have polybutylene pipes in your home, especially if your home is more than 10 years old, call Magnolia Plumbing right away – you could be sitting on a watery time bomb!
Why You Need Polybutylene Replacement
If you have polybutylene piping in your home, it’s only a matter of time before something goes wrong. That’s why it’s imperative you have it replaced right away! Even if your pipes are still going strong after 10 years, that doesn’t mean you can start thinking they’ll last forever – it just means they could fail at any moment!
Some of the risks associated with polybutylene pipes include:
- Flooding
- Mold infestation from undetected leaks
- Increased insurance premiums or cancelled insurance coverage
The risks extend beyond damage to your home. More and more mortgage lenders are refusing to lend money for properties with polybutylene piping, meaning it can be very hard to sell a home with this type of pipe. Normally, real estate agents leave it up to buyers and sellers to negotiate the terms of polybutylene replacement, so if you’re planning on making a move, be sure to call Magnolia Plumbing first!
If You Need Polybutylene Replacement, Call Magnolia Plumbing Today!
Polybutylene piping replacement can be messy, but it’s absolutely necessary in order to protect your home from potentially severe damage. If you need polybutylene replacement, call Magnolia Plumbing! Our plumbers operate with the highest level of professionalism, and we will do everything we can to ensure your polybutylene replacement goes smoothly and is as minimally invasive as possible. And while you’re replacing your polybutylene pipes, you may want to think about water heater replacement or other plumbing services as well!
Polybutylene pipe failure has been a nightmare for millions of families throughout the country, and many here in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC area. Don’t let problems with polybutylene piping cost you thousands of dollars in property damage and repairs. If you have polybutylene piping and need polybutylene replacement, call Magnolia Plumbing today!