Anybody here have Polybutylene pipes in their house? I have them, but for several years had no problems. Now, they seem to be failing. I've had a couple of leaks.

I'm wondering if anyone here has been through the process of trying to get them replaced under the terms of the class action lawsuit? Does anyone here have any experience with this?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

We had them installed outdoors at our farm and they were all replaced through the settlement in '91. Did you opt out? We went through the store the pipe was sold from and they had all of the information, because it turned out to be a hella good deal for them--they hired a bunch of independant contractors and made a lot of money doing the replacements which the pipe mfg. had to pay for.

Year House Was Built?
Year You bought?
Any information in Sale re: aforementioned pipe?

PB pipe (fittings actually) are crap. It is what is giving PEX a hard time to get wider use... There are other options aside from the previous legal settlements...

Pete

Pete, I bought the house in 1994. I think it was built in the mid to late seventies. I checked all over for leaks when I first bought it and did not find any evidence of leaking anywhere. Recently, though, I have had a couple of valves and a couple of fittings fail. I was able to repair those because they happened to be accessible, but I'm worried about the joints inside the walls.

I'd be glad to replace it with PEX if I can get somebody to pay for some or all of it. Don't know what the terms or requirements of the settlement were though.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

No, I never opted out of anything. I just couldn't find evidence of leaking as was required in the settlement (as I recall). Whatever I knew about it originally, I have long since forgotten now.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Check this website for more information. It appears to be official, but I can't guarantee it's not a deceptive advertisement for a specific pipe replacement company:

http://www.pbpipe.com/index1.htm

I still own and live in a house I built in 1988. I personally did all the plumbing and I used PB pipe. I have never had a leak (knocking wood). I don't cliam to be an expert, but I understand the pipe itself is not typically the culprit. It is the plastic fittings that usually fail. I used very few if any plastic fittings behind sheetrock. I used copper fittings with crimp rings (look a lot like simple wedding bands) which are attached with a large crimping tool.

I just re-read the website I linked to above and discovered I am no longer eligible for reimbursement should I have a problem in the future. I built my house 17 years ago and the class action suit only covers leaks that occur within 13 years of installation.

Thanks. If that's the case, then I guess I'm screwed. Yeah, the pipe is fine. It's the fittings that have failed on mine.

Any idea on the cost of running PEX compared to copper replacement pipes? I'm wondering if using PEX would require less wall board-cutting? I think you can run PEX a lot like pulling wire.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Sorry -- I wouldn't even hazard a guess what it might cost to re-plumb. There are companies that specialize in PB replacement.

If I ever have to do it, I'll probably go with copper. Not that I don't think PEX is a good product, but the long term results are yet to be seen. And perception has a large influence on market value.

Yeah, you're right about that. I would prefer copper, too. I guess I'll have to start pricing my options.

I guess that 560SEC just moved a little bit further out of my reach!

Thanks for your input.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles