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When theres a water leak, polybutylene pipes may be to blame and a
plumber will need to be called. Polybutylene is a type of pipe that was
thought to be wondrous back in the 1970s. It was a product expected to
revolutionize water pathways into homes due to its low cost, simple
installation and flexibility. Unfortunately, this did not turn out to be
the case. As with all newfangled inventions, after being used a bit,
unexpected flaws begin to surface. This is exactly what happened with
these supposedly magical pipes.
Everything would have been fine if it wasnt for the fact that chlorine
eats away the plastic. Most cities have chlorine in their water systems
as a purifier and bacteria killer. Unfortunately, it is also a
polybutylene killer. This product is guaranteed to fail eventually, but
the average time frame is usually around fifteen years. Because the
deterioration is occurring on the inside, even a close inspection may
miss the damage. Without warning, these tubes will suddenly burst.
Because this product was considered to be top-notch in plumbing
materials, one quarter of all homes built in the late seventies through
the mid-nineties were equipped with them. Although a thorough home
inspection has become a routine ceremony in a real estate purchase,
these products are not always apparent to the inspectors. Not only are
most of the pathways hidden under dirt or inside of walls, but in
addition some of the visible end pieces were copper, making it appear as
if the entire system was plumbed with it.
When a burst occurs, aggressive action will need to be taken. With other
piping products, a simple replacement can take care of the problem.
This is not the case with polybutylene. When one portion has begun to
leak, its almost guaranteed that the remainder of it is in similar
condition and just waiting to spring a geyser. Instead of a patch job,
the cost of a full replacement will be necessitated. Depending on the
accessibility, the price-tag for fixing the leak will be more than
double what copper or brass would cost to fix.
A hypothetical example of a water leak involving polybutylene is as
follows: A homeowner notices water pooling in the garden beside the
house. A handyman thinks its just a frozen sprinkler and repairs it at a
cost of $90. Unfortunately, the water continues to pool. The handyman
comes back, digs deeper and finds a break in the main line to the house.
He says, call a plumber! This job is over my head. The plumber
arrives and sure enough, its the faulty poly-pipes. What would have
only cost $250 in repairs now costs nearly $700 as the full 30 feet of
piping must be replaced along with lots of digging.
Leaks happen but if the faulty pipe material is to blame, its better to
replace them rather than to try to patch them. Otherwise, it will be
just a short time before another burst occurs. For times like these, a
reputable plumber will come to the rescue and fix the problem.
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