What Every Business Owner Should Know About Polybutylene Pipes

12/29/2021 (Permalink)

Owning a building with polybutylene pipes can be extremely costly.

Polybutylene Pipes

When you purchased your commercial building, you likely completed an extensive inspection to verify that the structure was a reasonable investment. Unfortunately, any building in Trenton, OH, built between 1978 and 1995 may have a potentially serious problem lurking within its walls: polybutylene pipes.

Once considered an innovative advancement, these plumbing lines are no longer considered a viable, long-term option. In fact, any building containing these supply lines may be extremely vulnerable to water damage.

Benefits of Polybutylene

These pipes were a popular choice among builders for several reasons:

• Enhanced flexibility
  
• Resistant to corrosion and calcification
  
• Resilient under high water pressure
  
• Less noisy than traditional components
  
  

This form of plastic tubing was also cheaper than other alternatives.

A Serious Problem

Unfortunately, after approximately two decades of use, the plumbing community discovered that polybutylene may not be an ideal choice after all. After 10-15 years of exposure to chlorine and other water-soluble oxidants, the plastic tubing is susceptible to internal deterioration and flaking. Over time, a compromised interior makes these pipes increasingly vulnerable to cracks and potentially destructive leaks.

Devising an Action Plan

Because these tubes deteriorate from the inside, it can be difficult to detect a problem in advance. If you own an older building and are concerned about the integrity of your plumbing system, you should contact a licensed plumber and request an evaluation.

If your system utilizes potentially compromised pipes, it’s important to carefully evaluate your options. Because considerable deterioration can occur within 15 years, delaying a remedy may result in extensive water damage. Although it may be costly, your best option may be to install new plumbing lines.

A Costly Situation

Owning a building with polybutylene pipes can be extremely costly. Although replacing plumbing lines can be expensive, this type of plastic tubing is likely to fail and leak. To help safeguard your business investment, it’s important to understand your risks and devise a strategy to resolve the issue.