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Poly B Replacement

Poly B Pipe Replacement

What is Poly-B Pipe?

Polybutylene also known as poly-b is a flexible plastic plumbing material that was popularly used in home construction between 1978 and 1995. Poly-b is generally identified by its light grey colour and copper connections and elbows. Poly-b was popular for home builders because it was a cheaper alternative to copper piping and was installed in over 700,000 Canadian homes.

Does My Home Have Poly-B Piping?

You should be able to easily identify whether or not your home has poly-b plumbing. To identify whether or not your home has poly-b find an area in your home where you can access some piping, this can be in a utility room or by removing a few tiles of your drop ceiling in your basement. Once you can see some of your homes piping you will be able to identify if it is poly-b if it is a grey colour, is plastic and has brass fittings and connectors. Please use the photos below to better understand what poly-b piping looks like.

Poly B Piping Calgary
Poly B Piping

Problems with Poly-B Piping

Poly-b piping was discontinued many years ago and there is a reason for this. It has been discovered that over time this type of piping begins to leak and burst. As homes with poly-b piping in Calgary continue to get older we are beginning to see more and more cases of this type of pipe failing and causing damage to homes. Sometimes it is the fittings that fail and sometimes the pipes themselves develop leaks. With poly-b it is not a matter of if the pipe is going to fail it is a matter of when.

Some other reasons why poly-b should be replaced in your home or business is poly-b is permeable to oxygen. Poly-b used in circulating hot water loops is prone to deliver oxidized water which can be very hard on water heaters and boilers, and drastically shorten their life. Poly-b can also breakdown when exposed to sunlight over an extended period of time. This means if your home builder installed poly-b in your home that was not stored indoors or protected from the sun it could have a much shorter lifespan.

Can Poly-B be Replaced?

Poly-B can certainly be replaced if it is currently installed in your home. The expert plumbers at Lone Star Plumbing and Heating can remove the poly-b pipes in your home and replace them with copper or pex piping. This can be a major and costly project but can protect you from substantial leaks and damage in the future. If you are experiencing ongoing leaks and problems with your poly-b piping it may be time to replace it.

Cost to Replace Poly-B Piping

The cost of replacing poly-b piping will vary based on your home or business. Replacing poly-b routinely requires drywall removal and can be quite invasive. At Lone Star Plumbing and Heating we approach every poly-b replacement project ensuring we will have your home back to the condition it was before we began our work. Some of the factors that will affect the cost of a poly-b replacement project are labour, interior access, size of the home or business, number of bathrooms, material and the extent of drywall removal.

No matter the size of your home or business replacing poly-b is a substantial project that will be costly. The average price of poly-b replacement is usually between $5,000 and $15,000. Although this is a considerable investment it can save you spending even more when dealing with damages from a burst pipe. It also gives you the peace of mind in knowing an inevitable leaking or burst pipe is no longer on the horizon.

Can Poly-B Plumbing be Repaired?

Repairing poly-b piping can be tricky because the fittings for poly-b pipe are no longer made. However if you are experiencing a leak with your poly-b plumbing and do not want to undertake a full repipe there is ways to repair the failing sections. Poly-b can be transitioned to different types of piping such as copper or pex.

We Can Help

If you have any questions or concerns about poly-b piping in your home please do not hesitate to contact the experienced plumbers at Lone Star Plumbing and Heating. We are ready to help you handle any problems you may be encountering with your poly-b plumbing.