Polybutylene (PB) Pipes Polybutylene Plumbing Polybutylene Pipe Replacement Company Polybutylene Pipes  
Polybutylene (PB) Pipes
Water Pipe Leak Repair

Atlantic Re-Plumbing, LLC
44081 Pipeline Plaza
Suite 120
Ashburn, Virginia 20147

703-948-7111
800-298-5317
 
 
We accept all major
credit cards
Low-interest financing available
Certified-Insured-Bonded


 

 

 
 
Polybutylene (PB) pipes might be the pipes running throughout your home that supplies water you use everyday. PB pipes will leak without any warning causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Polybutylene is a plastic material known as a co-polymer. It was widely used from the mid 70's to the mid 90's across the nation. At that time it was touted as the "pipe of the future." Polybutylene pipes are easily identified by the gray color and copper rings around the fittings where there are joints or directional changes in the pipe.

What causes polybutylene pipes to deteriorate can be attributed to the oxidants in the water. Significantly more failures have occurred with the increased usage of chemicals like chlorine and bacteria fighting ingredients we use everyday. Polybutylene reacts to these oxidants by becoming brittle. The PB pipes then develop tiny micro cracks in the pipe. Just looking at the pipes may not give you any indication that there is a problem because the erosion and cracks start on the inside of the pipe. Be aware, what appears to be okay, may not be!

PB pipe failures can range in severity, but once you find one leak you can be assured you will soon have more. The average PB pipe starts to leak after nine years. The older the pipes the more likely they are to fail. With polybutylene it is not a question of IF you will have a failure but a question of WHEN you will have a failure. It is important that you become pro-active in your efforts to prevent failures and the damage one failure can cause to your home.

How do you recognize Polybutylene Pipes:

  • PB pipe is a non-rigid, sometimes curved, usually gray (or possibly silver or black) plastic pipe used in water supply plumbing systems.
  • PB pipe has copper or silver rings that hold the joints together.
  • PB pipe is blue, gray or black when used in the underground service company (from your home to the street).
  • PB pipe is not used for drains, waste or vent piping.
  • PB pipe is not PVC or CPVC, which is a rigid white or off-white plastic pipe.
Examples of polybutylene pipes:
Acetal Plastic Insert Fittings
Polybutylene (PB) Piping & Plumbing

If you purchased a house, mobile home or other structure in the United States after September 12, 1999, that contains plumbing composed of polybutylene pipe with plastic or metal insert fittings and was installed between January 1, 1978 and July 31, 1995, this Notice is directed to you.

The $950 million settlement in Cox v. Shell Oil Company, a national class action lawsuit on behalf of homeowners who have PB plumbing, provides relief to Class Members with qualifying leaks in PB plumbing that meets certain age restrictions as defined in the Notice of Class Action and Settlement.

If you have PB plumbing, you may be entitled to free replacement of your plumbing if it has leaked in the past, or leaks in the future. (For more information to CPRC, the official site for the subsequent notice program of the Cox v. Shell.

 

If you do not qualify for the lawsuit and have polybutylene piping in your home, contact Atlantic Re-Plumbing, Inc. We can offer a solution that will be acceptable for you. Just give us a call and schedule a free inspection and estimate: 703-948-7111,or use our On-Line Estimate tool to get quick response on the price.