Frequently Asked Questions About Polybutylene © 2009 Robinson Plumbing, Inc. What is Polybutylene? If you're asking yourself, "What are Polybutylene Pipes?", you maybe worried that your home or business was built with them. If your building was built between the late 70's and mid 90's, polybutylene pipes may have been and may still be there. So, what's wrong with polybutylene pipes? To put it simply, they have an unusually high rate of failure under normal operating conditions. Deterioration linked to chlorine water additives has been linked to the failures, however customers on private water supplies have reported many problems. Polybutylene pipe is grey, black or blue. Interior polybutylene plumbing is almost always grey and exterior polybutylene plumbing is mostly blue. Polybutylene pipe was installed and manufactured from the late 1970's till the mid-1990's, however, stockpiles of polybutylene pipe at supply vendors, such as supply risers were still known to be available up to 1999. The most common sizes for polybutylene pipe are 3/8", ½", ¾" and 1". Polybutylene piping was used for both residential and commercial water distribution piping. Polybutylene pipe connectors can be copper, brass, or plastic. The connector types are barbed with a crimp ring or compression with a plastic or metal ferrule. Information on Polybutylene Lawsuits   How Are Polybutylene Repairs Performed? First a licensed plumbing technician performs a diagnostic to determine whether you have Polybutylene pipes or another material. After determining the problem, in most instances the Polybutylene needs to be replaced. A section of pipe that has shifted over time, or a pipe that has been damaged ("collapsed" or "sheared" over time) is the most common problem encountered. These types of problems are commonly caused by backhoe operators who over dig. If the sewer pipe does not lay flat on bed dirt then over time it will eventually crack, causing a "belly" in the pipe. In turn, the plumbing technicians perform a Video Inspection- which uses a camera to pinpoint the depth, where the problem is located, and the severity of the problem. At that time they approximate the length of pipe needed to fix the problem (normally about 5 feet or less), how long it will take to fix (usually just a few hours), and agree on an agreeable cost (typically around $800). NOTE: There are some companies, from franchises- who are based on commission sales. These sewer repair sales technicians will typically recommend that the entire sewer pipe be replaced- as opposed to a Spot Repair. The difference in cost can be astronomical.   How Long Does Polybutylene Replacement Take? Typically, a normal water service Polybutylene line repair takes about 1-2 hours in many instances, including setup, video-in-pipe, diagnostics and performance of the repair. Full sewer pipe replacement can take days- although many jobs may be done in a day.   What is the Cost of New Water Service? The cost of new water service typically is around $450-650 (Note: "Trenchless Technology Performed"). At times when Polybutylene line goes under driveways and sideways it can increase cost.   Will Repairing My Polybutylene Pipes Tear Up My Lawn? In cases where lawn quality issues are a concern extra measures may be employed. This includes special mats, plyboard, and other measures that only experienced operators can ensure.   Is Polybutylene Repair Dangerous? Sewer repair is dangerous in aspects of environmental damage, including stipulations enforced by local Health Departments. For instance a property can be condemned if there exists raw sewage- for potential of bacteria causing multiple deseases. In terms of the equipment used, a lot of the "Taps" are located at depths up to up 20 or more feet. This poses potential problems for ditch cave-in, in addition to worker saftey. Therefore, "Shore Boxes" and "Trench Boxes" (usually 5 feet wide) may be employed. Saftey is Always Number One!