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Polybutylene
is a form of plastic resin that was used extensively in the
manufacture of water supply piping from 1978 until 1995. Due
to the low cost of the material and ease of installation,
polybutylene piping systems were viewed as "the pipe of the
future" and were used as a substitute for traditional copper
piping. It is most commonly found in the "Sun Belt" where
residential construction was heavy through the 1980's and
early-to-mid 90's, but it is also very common in the Mid
Atlantic and Northwest Pacific states.
The piping systems
were used for underground water mains and as interior water
distribution piping. Industry experts believe it was
installed in at least 6 million homes, and some experts
indicate it may have been used in as many as 10 million
homes. Most probably, the piping was installed in about one
in every four or five homes built during the years in which
the pipe was manufactured.
How to Tell If You Have Poly
Exterior - Polybutylene underground water mains are usually
blue, but may be gray or black (do not confuse black poly
with polyethelene pipe). It is usually 1/2" or 1" in
diameter, and it may be found entering your home through the
basement wall or floor, concrete slab or coming up through
your crawlspace; frequently it enters the home near the
water heater. Your main shutoff valve is attached to the end
of the water main. Also, you should check at the water meter
that is located at the street, near the city water main. It
is wise to check at both ends of the pipe because we have
found cases where copper pipe enters the home, and poly pipe
is at the water meter. Obviously, both pipes were used and
connected somewhere underground.
Interior - Polybutylene used inside your home can be
found near the water heater, running across the ceiling in
unfinished basements, and coming out of the walls to feed
sinks and toilets. Warning: In some regions of the country
plumbers used copper "stub outs" where the pipe exits a wall
to feed a fixture, so seeing copper here does not mean that
you do not have poly.
Will the Pipes Fail?
While scientific evidence is scarce, it is believed that
oxidants in the public water supplies, such as chlorine,
react with the polybutylene piping and acetal fittings
causing them to scale and flake and become brittle.
Micro-fractures result, and the basic structural integrity
of the system is reduced. Thus, the system becomes weak and
may fail without warning causing damage to the building
structure and personal property. It is believed that other
factors may also contribute to the failure of polybutylene
systems, such as improper installation, but it is virtually
impossible to detect installation problems throughout an
entire system.
Throughout the 1980's lawsuits were filed complaining of
allegedly defective manufacturing and defective installation
causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Although
the manufacturers have never admitted that poly is
defective, they have agreed to fund the Class Action
settlement with an initial and minimum amount of $950
million. You'll have to contact the appropriate settlement
claim company to find out if you qualify under this
settlement.
from
www.polybutylene.com
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