Aarow Plumbing Co. Specializes in Replacing Polybutylene Pipes
Many homes built in Tucson, Arizona, during the 1980s, used Polybutylene piping because of its ease of installation and perceived quality. It is estimated that Polybutylene piping may have been installed in as many as one in every four or five homes built during the years in which it was manufactured. It's now known that Polybutylene pipe breaks down over time and that the fittings leak or eventually break, sometimes causing extensive damage.
Polybutylene Pipe
Polybutylene pipe is a plastic pipe that is used in residential water supply systems. It was very common in the Tucson area from about 1982 until 1997, when Polybutylene pipe became the subject of a billion-dollar class-action lawsuit. At the time, Arizona and Florida had the highest use of polybutylene piping in residential homes. The pipe was found to have an unusually high failure rate and would leak without warning. Some insurance companies will no longer insure homes with this pipe. Commonly, this pipe is not visible since the copper pipe is used at the end of the "run" as it exits the wall. The typical cost to re-pipe a home is $3,000 to $7,000. Visit www.pbpipe.com for further information.
Failures in Polybutylene Piping
Failures in Polybutylene piping can range in severity, but once you find one leak, you can be assured you will soon have more. With Polybutylene pipe, it is not a question of if you will have a failure, but a question of when you will have a failure. The total potential flood damage can run into the millions for Tucson homeowners each and every year. It is important that you become proactive in your efforts to prevent failures and the damage polybutylene piping can cause.
To safeguard against that type of damage, Aarow Plumbing Co. suggests a free, no-obligation Polybutylene replacement estimate inspection of your home. Our team of experts can replace the Polybutylene pipe system and leave your home clean and inspected for complete water usage to all fixtures in your house.
The potential for widespread flooding is great, especially in Tucson, Arizona, where many people leave their homes during the hot weather months to escape to the ocean or mountains. Once a section of Polybutylene pipe has broken or a fitting has failed, the water pours into the home and walls, destroying wiring, drywall, paneling, carpets, flooring, and furniture.
Leaks Occurring After 8/21/97 Must Meet for Lawsuit Eligibility Against the Manufacturer of Poly Pipe
| Mobile Homes – Any combination of plastic or metal Insert Fittings | 10 years of installation | 11 years of installation |
| Yard Service Line – Any type of fittings | 10 years of installation | 11 years of installation |
| Homes – Plastic Insert Fittings | 13 years of installation | 14 years of installation |
| Homes – Metal or mixed (both Plastic & Metal Insert Fittings) | 16 years of PB plumbing installation or 1/31/09, whichever is earlier | 17 years of PB plumbing installation or 5/1/09, whichever is earlier |
| Commercial Buildings – Plastic, Metal, or Mixed Insert Fittings | 14 years of installation |