Is it Time For New Pipes?

Is it Time For New Pipes?

 

Home-Alyze brings us this great information about water line materials. Perhaps it can help you decide if it’s time for new pipes in your home.

In recent months, insurance companies have been asking their clients about the type of Pex piping in homes that were built from about 1995 to 2007. We have been helping our clients with this issue as some insurers are reluctant or refusing to insure homes with Kitec or the other brands it was sold under. Also included is some information on Poly-B water lines that was used from the early 1980’s to about 1998.

Kitec Water Pipes

 

Kitec Water Pipes | Time For new Pipes?
Kitec Water Pipes

Kitec water pipes were made from polyethylene and a thin inner layer of aluminum and have brass fittings. They are typically blue in color for cold water applications and orange or red in color for hot water applications. They can also be black or grey. The pipes were sold from about 1995 to 2007 under various brand names, including Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA, IPEX Homerite WARMRITE, Kitec XPA, AmbioComfort, XPA, KERR Controls and Plomberie Amelioree, PEX-AL-PEX. Where the brass fittings are visible the words Kitec, KTC or the terms CSA B137.9/10 or ATSM F1974 on them also indicate a Kitec system.

In 1995, IPEX recalled brass compression fittings from Canadian and U.S. distributors. The Canadian statement of claim alleged the fittings were faulty causing pipes to disintegrate. The brass fitting that apparently have a large percentage of zinc are reacted with the chemical composition of the liquid inside, causing them to corrode, or “dezincify,” fail or restrict the flow through the fittings. Kitec products were also used in some under floor radiant heating systems with similar results but they are usually easier to repair since there are usually less connectors and most are visible should a problem occur.

Running hot water through the lines has also been considered detrimental to their longevity. Keeping hot water settings as low as possible and keeping pressure as low as possible with the use of a pressure reduction valve is desirable for all plastic water systems.

There are class action lawsuits in Canada and the U.S. that allege that the product was negligently manufactured, which caused the pipes to disintegrate prematurely. Some insurance Companies have deemed these systems unreliable and may add a premium or refuse to cover them by insurance. Kitec may not be identified specifically during a typical home inspection.

Check out the www.cbc.ca News Article

 

Polybutylene (Poly-B) Domestic Water Lines

PolyB Pipes | Time For New Pipes?
PolyB Pipes

The use of Plastic Polybutylene Water Lines commonly referred to as Poly-B, began in the early 1980’s until about 1998. Initially there were very few problems with this material if it was properly installed with copper connectors and adequately supported. Over time however failures have occurred in some cases, sometimes in the form of small pinhole leaks and other times larger splits have occurred. There have been enough failures over the years for insurance companies to take notice and it is not uncommon for increased premiums or refusal to insure homes with Poly-B as the primary water line distribution material. It must also be stated that there are many thousands of homes that have this material used that have never had any failures.

 

Characteristics of Poly-B

  • Poly-b is grey in color.
  • Primarily used in residential construction.
  • Failures tend to be more predominant in water lines carrying higher temperature water.
  • The integrity of Poly-B Water Lines is believed to be compromised if exposed to ultra-violet light for any significant amount of time.
  • The integrity of Poly-B Water Lines is also believed to be compromised if exposed to high levels of chlorine if added to the water.

So what’s my remedy?

  • In most cases home owners are leaving Poly-B water lines in their homes and sharing the risk of a possible failure with their insurance company.
  • It is considered a good upgrade to add a pressure reducing valve on the main water supply into the home to reduce the overall pressure the water lines need to endure.
  • Keeping the water temperature of the hot water running through the lines as low as possible is also recommended by many plumbing contractors. This helps save energy as well
  • Ensuring the water lines are secured into place and not exposed to damage is also important.
  • If you plan any renovations it is highly recommended to remove Poly-B water lines and replace them with new water lines as they are exposed and even consider replacing all the Poly-B if possible.
  • If Poly-B has been used for under floor heating a qualified Plumbing contractor should be retained to separate the Poly-B from any liquid running through a boiler and ensure the lines are not exposed to high temperature liquid.

Galvanized Steel Piping was used in Canada until the mid 1960s and can be identified by the one inch diameter piping with threaded connections. By the 1970s, copper piping became the standard. Today, plastic piping is popular as it is light, easy to work with, and generally less expensive than copper piping.

Galvanized steel pipes

Insurance Issues

Galvanized Pipe | Is it Time For New Pipes?The life expectancy of galvanized steel pipes is 40 to 50 years.  Over time, the pipes corrode from the inside out reducing water pressure and restricting water flow. Mineral deposits can build up in the connections forcing water to flow through a restricted space thereby increasing pressure. Both corrosion and restricted water flow can lead to leaking and/or rupture of the pipes. An insurance company may require you to replace galvanized steel piping with copper or plastic piping before providing you with insurance coverage.

You might not spend much time thinking about what sort of pipes you have connecting the plumbing in your home, but your insurance company does. In particular, they are worried about galvanized pipes; steel pipes that were coated with zinc intended to prevent rust and corrosion. Originally created as a lead pipe substitute, galvanized pipes are most common in homes built before 1960, but they can be found in all sorts of buildings across. Unfortunately, time has proven the zinc coating on these pipes to be inadequate, and decades of exposure to water corrode the inside of the pipes, leading to leaks, bursts, and collapses.

Leaking galvanized | Is it Time For New Pipes?The expected lifespan of galvanized pipes is 40 to 50 years, and since most were installed before 1960, they now all present a risk. Since corrosion happens on the inside of the pipes, there is no way to be certain about how much damage the pipe has suffered until it’s too late. Because of this risk factor, some companies have chosen to no longer insure homes with ANY galvanized plumbing, asking for it all to be replaced before moving forward. Other companies will still insure you, but may increase your water damage deductible or limit the coverage offered.

Your home should ideally have copper or plastic pipes, both non-corrosive materials. Appearing penny-colored and white or black, respectively, they should be easy to distinguish from silver or grey galvanized piping, either from just looking at the pipe or scratching the surface. If you still can’t tell what sort of material your pipes are made out of, get a strong magnet and hold it against the surface. Galvanized steel is magnetic, unlike copper and plastic, so it should attract the magnet.

Replacing all your plumbing can be a major expense, but if you still have galvanized pipes, it will need to be done eventually. You should replace your pipes right away if you see rust around your pipe joints, rust spots on the pipes themselves, patched leaks, brown or rust-colored water coming out of your faucets, or lower-than-usual water pressure (calcium builds up in galvanized pipes as they corrode, restricting water flow). If you have galvanized plumbing but have not seen any of these warning signs, you may not be in immediate danger, and you can decide if fully replacing your plumbing is affordable. Just understand that you are accepting a certain amount of risk and your insurance options may be limited.

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This Information was brought to us by Home Alyze
This Information was brought to us by Home Alyze