Blue Polybutylene Pipe Replacement
Atlanta, GA
Specializing in residential and apartment building polybutylene plumbing replacement in Atlanta,Ga., Greenlee Plumbing Duluth is family owned and operated. We are licensed and insured in the State of Georgia. We are turnkey, drywall and paint is included in estimate. When you need a Atlanta Polybuytlene Plumber, give us a call.
Greenlee Plumbing Atlanta is family owned and operated and have over 50 years of combined experience. We have completed thousands of yard line replacements, apartments units, and houses. We are generally competing for your business against large nationwide corporations with very high overhead. When you see our low prices, it’s not because we don’t know what we are doing, it’s because our overhead is low and we are very efficient at what we do.
Free Polybutylene Information:
Home inspector reccomendations
Class Action Lawsuit Expiration
Polybutylene piping is a low-cost piping formed of plastic resin. It is commonly Gray, white, or sometimes black in color. Poly piping is employed as a substitute for copper piping in both underground water mains and interior plumbing. Due to the eas poly piping, it was used in the construction of millions of homes throughout the U.S. between 1978 and 1995; however, it has been discovered that as poly pipe ages and reacts with water-soluble oxidants, it begins to degrade and can leak, causing severe damage to the surrounding building structure. Although some poly piping problems stem from improper installation, most complaints are with the integrity of the piping itself. Gray Polybutylene pipe is known to deteriorate due to contact with oxidants normally found in public water supplies. The failure can occur in the plastic fittings or in the pipe itself. A main concern regarding poly pipe is that, since the oxidants are carried in the water, the pipe deteriorates from the inside. This makes it very difficult to determine if the pipe is truly in good condition. Most home inspectors cannot give a reliable assessment on the condition of poly piping unless there is a visible problem with the exterior of the pipe or its installation. In addition, when a leak occurs, it may be extremely severe because the deterioration occurs from within. Poly pipe leaks are unpredictable and there are no symptoms to warn of an impending leak. Some factors that affect polybutylene piping adversely can include:
When polybutylene pipe reacts with the oxidants in normal tapwater, it becomes brittle, sometimes scaling or flaking. This results in a fracturing of the interior surface of the pipe, which allows for more deterioration. Eventually the pipe will begin to leak, causing damage throughout a home. Poly pipe with plastic fittings or with metal fittings will eventually incur damage; poly piping is not a reliable piping under any circumstances. If a pipe has been leaking for some time without the knowledge of a homeowner, severe structural damage to the home can result, making repairs extremely difficult. Damage from polybutylene pipe leaks can be expensive, in some cases more than the original cost of the house. Insurance companies sometimes cancel or refuse policies for homes with known poly piping problems, and it is difficult to market a home that has such an unreliable plumbing system.
Poly piping can be used anywhere in the home’s plumbing system – usually its presence can be ascertained by checking the attachments under household sinks, near hot water heaters, or leading into toilets. Following is a list of common places you may inspect for the presence of poly piping:
Note: Not all polybutylene piping systems use polybutylene fittings; some use copper. Therefore, if you see copper fittings on a pipe, it does not indicate that you do not have poly piping. Another important area where poly piping may have been installed is the incoming water supply line to you house. If this incoming pipe is a light blue plastic pipe, it is likely that you have a type of poly pipe informally called "Big Blue". This pipe is extremely prone to failure and unexpected bursting. If you have this type of pipe as an incoming water supply line, it is recommended that you have it replaced as soon as possible. Remediation/ReplacementThe only way to eliminate the possibility of problems that can come from deteriorating polybutylene piping is to replace the pipe itself. Fortunately, this procedure is relatively inexpensive and can usually be performed by a certified plumber or re-pipe specialist. The process of re-piping (both interior and exterior) can involve some of the following procedures:
Poly piping runs behind the walls and under the floors of a home, but while the re-piping of a house will require that holes be cut in the walls and floors, a professional can perform it with a minimum of damage to walls and other structures. If there has already been damage to your drywall from a poly pipe leak, we would be glad to give you an estimate for the additional drywall work. Property Values, Ownership, and Buyer Notification There are currently no laws specifically regarding the disclosure of poly piping on a property, but some property brokers have been sued for not disclosing the presence of polybutylene piping in buildings they sell. Real Estate brokers selling homes containing poly piping should be prepared to be held liable if buyers have a non-disclosure complaint. At the very least, both sellers buyers should be provided with some sort of information regarding poly piping and its dangers, and sellers should be given the opportunity to replace their piping before putting their home on the market. |
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