We are not affiliated with, and do not receive any compensation from, any of the companies or products mentioned in this blog. Initially, contractors installed around 10 million polybutylene pipes in homes in the US. Or you could wait longer and say goodbye to your earnest money too. Consumer protection laws are getting stricter across the US. Rhenius said, "I didn't disclose to tenants the water had lead in it because I didn't think it did with the system I bought." The house was sold in August for $477,500, according to . During my over 20-year real estate investing career, Ive dealt many times with properties having this problem. Does a Seller Have to Disclose Polybutylene Pipes? You will need to excavate them for examination. Why is polybutylene piping bad? This is true for a private source like a well, or a municipal water line. The second option would consume some of your money and time, but the good part is that it would result in a higher selling price for your home. You should discuss with them the different kinds of pipes available and the cost of each. What's that powdery crust on the pipe connections at the water heater? They may pass on making the loan altogether. In the US, it has become generally accepted that the failures are most likely due to chemicals in municipal water supplies reacting with polybutylene - and this is one of the primary reasons why homeowners won a largeclass-action lawsuit against Shell Oil (who manufactured and marketed the polybutylene resin). Why is it a problem? house Your first polybutylene leak can happen at any time, even if you've had years of leak-free experience. Within 10 years or less, homeowners started witnessing leaking or burst pipes and sometimes catastrophic damage from them. They were installed in almost 10 million homes at a substantial savings over the conventional copper plumbing pipes. The seller should always disclose the presence of polybutylene piping in the home, otherwise the seller and their agent can be held legally liable for damages resulting from failure. You just have to know who your prospective buyers are, where to find them, and what other factors of such a deal you should consider. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. High Desert . Most insurance companies will outright decline to insure a home with PB-pipe because of its history of failure. If the seller chooses not to replace the polybutylene pipes, give them a release agreement to sign that protects you from all potential liability. Definitely negotiate to get them replaced if it's city water. Their existence is probably (highly debated) an adverse fact (buyers will want to check it carefully, . The insurance agent gave me the quote without the pipe information and it was way too high so I forgot about the pipe question until now. if the sellers had disclosed the pipe material in the beginning. Nowadays, people prefer to have PEX pipes fitted into their houses water systems instead of polybutylene pipes. Code requirements cited may have been changed in a newer code edition, or may not yet be adopted in your area. They seemed to be a perfect material for plumbing pipes because they were inexpensive and held up well under high water pressures. This can be a problem in the long run, as in the case of floods, your insurance will not cover the damage costs, and the burden will have to be on you. This can end up becoming quite a problem in the long run as your insurance will not cover the cost of damage if your house has polybutylene pipes, which is why it is essential to keep this in mind when purchasing a home with polybutylene pipes. In short, you don't have to disclose a death in a house in Texas unrelated to the condition of the property, the HIV status of any occupants of the property, and won't be held responsible for any conditions that you are truly unaware of. Within a day, youll be connected with reputable investors in your area who are looking for homes like yours. Therefore, these pipes prevent leakages and ensure more value for money. Any other advice about this issue and how to handle it? I've been conducting professional home inspections since 2002. Woe is me. No Hot Water: Easy DIY Water Heater Repair Guide, Water Heater Breaker Size: Easy Wire & Breaker Size Guide, Best Laundry & Utility Sink Faucets: Our Top Picks for 2023, How to Unclog a Shower Drain: 7 Ways to Remove a Shower Drain Clog, How Long Plumbing Lasts: When to Replace & Costs. After that, building codes around the country no longer allowed the use of polybutylene pipes in new construction. To maximize the value you get from the sale of your property to an investor, consider requesting a cash offer from HouseCashin. Do you have to disclose polybutylene pipes to a homebuyer? Our repipes come with a lifetime warranty, can include drywall repair, and can often be completed in 1 or 2 days. Another option is to replace polybutylene pipes with copper pipes. What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks? Even if there is no doubt about what type of pipes you have, the condition cannot be determined by looking at the outside of the pipe. If you've had the misfortune of having your polybutylene plumbing fail, you have to choose whether to fix just the leaking section of piping, or repipe your entire home. To keep going forward I'd thought about negotiating back down to there list and put 20k in escrow to cover the replacement. What does polybutylene pipe look like? Fill out our Request a Cash Offer form to get a few offers from competing real estate investors working in your area and vetted by our reputation standards. However, copper pipes are exceptionally durable and, thus, will last a long time if you use these to replace fragile polybutylene pipes. An investor can close more quickly. An inspection report, and possibly the appraisers comments, will note the historical problems with polybutylene pipes. The problem became so widespread and the damages so severe that many insurance companies will refuse to issue a homeowners policy to a home with polybutylene pipes in place, or may write the policy to exclude any damage resulting from failure. Along with durability, these pipes are also heat resistant which makes PEX pipes a great choice. Our Realtor says she has the polybutylene pipes in her house and has never had a problem so we shouldn't worry about it. Polybutylene pipes (settlement, seller, disclosure, house) User Name: Remember Me: Password Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Disclaimer: we aren't lawyers, and aren't providing any legal advice here. I don't know how anyone can buy a house unaware of PB piping. With new flex line water-supply tubes and push-on valves, you can change the water-supply lines to a toilet or faucet in minutes. However, if you know you have poly plumbing - you will most likely need to disclose that fact. She wants her X-thousand(s) of dollars from you and that's her priority. Can You Sell a House with Polybutylene Pipes? Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Polybutylene (PB) piping was standard in homes built between 1978 and 1996. Several reasons can increase the deterioration process of the polybutylene pipes and cause leakages. Even though the information on this web page is provided by a qualified industry expert, it should not be considered as legal, tax, financial or investment advice. Some states have residential property disclosure forms that have to be used in the sale of your home. Messages sent using the form on this site, go directly to our email, which we check regularly. Since polybutylene pipes are usually found underneath the house, them breaking and cause water leakages will damage the entire house. What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks? As weve mentioned, the uncertainty of buying a home that has polybutylene pipes creates a scary situation for most homebuyers. Additionally, it has become very common for sellers to either make concessions for a buyer to re-pipe after closing or to re-pipe the home themselves before the sale. Why is old galvanized steel water pipe a problem for homebuyers? Here at Repipe Specialists, ourrepiping services utilize only made-in-the-USA high quality copper (Grade L) or Uponor PEX tubing. Inside, your contractor will locate the pipes in your home. Insurance companies dont look at these on a case-by-case basis. I emailed our Realtor and she never responded. Whether it's snakes, mice, or bats, in most . Must have picked a poor agent and a poor home inspector, or gone carelessly without either. Just my opinion. Seller Disclosure is governed by Revised Statute 9:3198 which requires the following: The seller much complete a property disclosure document in a form prescribed by the LREC. Over the years Brian has been involved in over 300 transactions of income producing properties across the US. Please include a message before submitting. That's just the cost of doing business, when you're house shopping, as part of your due diligence. This means that you dont have to wait to find out if your buyer can get their final loan approval. Others follow long term investing strategies. What causes a gurgling sound when a bathtub or sink drains? Your second choice would be to replace any polybutylene pipes in your property and sell it the traditional way. Is a hot water faucet handle required to be on the left? apartment and When was polybutylene pipe banned? Contact us to have one of our local estimators provide a free consultation and quote, delivered in-home or remotely. Found mainly in the southern US. You can, however, replace the polybutylene pipes with PEX piping. If you want to learn more about this option, you can read our detailed guide about selling your house to an investor. They can handle most of the diligence themselves and are the only decision-maker involved on their side of the deal. Are Polybutylene Water Supply Pipes Bad? If What is the difference between water service pipe and water supply pipe? Polybutylene piping isn't inherently bad. How can I tell what type of plumbing pipe I have? This way you can decide which method is right for you. May be stamped "PB2110". We would have requested they replace them and if they didn't we would have walked away early in the process. Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable? Compared to copper, it was inexpensive, easy to install, and had several other advantages like being resistant to damage from freezing. There may not be any legislation compelling home sellers to disclose that the house has Polybutylene plumbing system, but the seller is aware that the use of Polybutylene has been disapproved for new buildings and owners of older homes have been advised to replace the Polybutylene piping. Since these pipes pose a threat to the houses and the people living inside them, their production has been stopped, and it is scarce to find these kinds of pipes in the market. You should compare their offer to your propertys full market value minus your repair costs and closing costs. If you find the tell-tale gray tubing, look for the code "PB2110" printed on it. a professional plumber will charge between $150 and $500. homebuying If you are looking to purchase a home, look out for the signs of polybutylene piping as inspectors and realtors may not be required to disclose. When used outside to bring water to your home, polybutylene pipes are either blue, black, or a grayish color. If they don't agree, though, we are going to have to walk away. Well Crap, Polybutylene Pipes in a House I'm Looking at Buying #10628138 10/28/15. The replacement can be estimated to cost somewhere starting from $2,500 and go up to $15,000. By that time millions of homes had already been built using these pipes. What is the difference between water pipe and sewage (waste) pipe? You may have seen examples of this on television. What is a "combination waste and vent" in a plumbing system? Polybutylene (PB) is a plastic used for piping in home plumbing systems that were manufactured between 1978 and mid-1995. Once your pipes have been identified as being made of polybutylene, you can begin to replace all the pipes with good ones. Can You Sell a House With Polybutylene Pipes? I've never heard of anyone spending $3000.00 on an inspection. In a hurry? In all but three states (Alaska, California and South Dakota), sellers aren't required to disclose deaths from natural causes. Also in 1989, a totally different design emerged which used flexible pipiing. We've requested they replace the pipes, give us a credit for the replacement, or bring the offer price down to cover it. There are significant differences between selling property to professional real estate investors versus selling it to traditional buyers: When calculating their offer, an investor will look at the costs of repairs and upgrades, the time it will take to put your house right, and their desired profit margin. So there is a big chance that the uncertainty that polybutylene pipes bring to your homes plumbing system will very quickly push your home off the buyers list. Even though most potential buyers would hesitate to go for a house with polybutylene pipes, there are always specific buyers interested in it these type of properties, as we have discussed earlier. Check for a gray plastic pipe under sinks or in exposed areas in the basement or attic. What you are complaining about is the process working. How does repiping a house work? There were lawsuits including a class action lawsuit involving the pipes and disclosure issues. That would confirm your plumbing is polybutylene. 3. However, in mid-1966, manufacturers ceased production due to allegations claiming that polybutylene pipe failures caused property damage. foreclosure Going in to court with "He's a handy guy he probably knew" will give the judge a chuckle before the case gets tossed. Choice #2: Repipe Your Home and then Sell It. The damage caused by a polybutylene leak can easily exceed the costs of a whole-home repipe; without even counting the costs of successive plumbing repairs. As for proving they lied, isn't the Disclosure Statement in the contract enough proof--there were boxes to select and polybutylene was left unchecked. There are no showings or open houses. PB-1 is a high molecular weight, linear, isotactic, and semi-crystalline polymer. What are the abandoned pipes sticking out of the wall in my house? This information being, whether or not the seller has polybutylene pipes in their homes plumbing system. However, other options are available, such as CPVC pipes and copper pipes. Historically, there has been debate about why poly-pipes have failed. Lets start by looking at 2 available choices for preparing, marketing, and selling a home with polybutylene pipes. Polybutylene pipes are a significant inconvenience for plumbers because these pipes cracks and leakages are not easy to find. They should specify what materials will be used, hourly rates, and estimated time to do the work. Mandatory disclosure (M) of pipe material (lead not specifically addressed) or lead pipes if seller determines conditions unsafe (Example: State-required form asks, "Type of plumbing system: Copper/Galvanized/Plastic/ Polybutylene./Unknown/ Other") Wisconsin Voluntary disclosure (V) of lead pipes You should understand that repiping in copper, or copper and CPVC is going to be expensive, and estimates are going to vary, so taking off a large chunk of the purchase price of a home may not cover the expense or the hassle. 4. You can sell your house fast and for cash to an investor. home buying However, you cant repair polybutylene pipes because these pipes production ceased quite a long time ago. This type of plastic resin was commonly used in the manufacture of water piping, from about 1978 through the end of 1995, and is known to flake off and deteriorate after several years of use. The options on the "what kind of material are the pipes made of" included "plastic" and "polybutylene" and said check all that apply. First of all, yes, you can sell your home with polybutylene water pipes. The old house is not as good as I thought. If you suspect you have poly pipes, but aren't sure - you cancontact us for a free consult, and one of our local estimators would be happy to assist. How can I find out what type of water pipe runs underground from the water meter to the house (service pipe)? Therefore, having knowledge about polybutylene pipes and ensuring that you appropriately deal with them is very important. How can I protect my pipes to keep them from bursting during a hard winter freeze in North Florida? No, you shouldn't buy a home with polybutylene pipes. In new construction, it was replaced by copper or more dependable forms of plastic pipe, such as CPVC and PEX. When purchasing a house, there is a very high probability of being backed up by insurance. Can you connect CPVC pipe directly to a gas water heater? You could easily run afoul of these laws if you arent forthcoming about polybutylene pipes in your home. How would your realtor know that if it was mistakenly checked on the disclosure. 1991 - document.getElementById('copy-current-year').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())). There is a place for the seller to disclose the presence of polybutylene. If you have the funds to make repairs but need to sell quickly, you will also want to look at an investor sale. Can You Get Home Insurance With Polybutylene Pipes? If you are the listing broker and you or your seller knows the property has polybutylene or Kitec plumbing systems, it's pretty obvious - you must disclose the fact to the buyer just as you are required to . Many of them specifically require you to disclose whether or not you are aware of polybutylene piping on your property. Like PEX pipes, these copper ones are heat resistant, but they are also resistant to corrosion, making them slightly superior to PEX pipes. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. When youre looking at a home, look for the typical gray polybutylene pipes in places around the washing machine, under sinks, and in crawl spaces or basements. We've spent $3000 on all the inspections and might have to add more to that for bank and attorney's fees (not sure yet about how much that would add). Either copper pipe or PEX tubing are suitable repipe materials, but we find the vast majority of our customers replace their poly pipes with PEX tubing. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. Learn about them in the next section of this article. Interior pipes are white and can be confused for other types of piping. In new construction, it was replaced by copper or more dependable forms of plastic pipe, such as CPVC and PEX. Most of our repipes fall somewhere between $4,500 and $15,000. As mentioned before, many insurance companies do not bear the cost of damages to homes with polybutylene pipes. They've had the house for 4 year so I doubt they did not know about them. This could potentially make you liable for lawsuits from your buyer. In this article, we will be explaining what exactly is wrong with the old-fashioned polybutylene pipes in your home, as well as helpful information on how to replace them. With over 20+ years of experience in real estate investment and renovation, Brian Robbins brings extensive knowledge and innovative solutions to the HouseCashin team. A little about the house its a 3200 Sq ft house with 3 bathrooms which I offered 600k for and they listed for 550k. Supporting this claim, the industry points to the extensive and continued successful use of polybutylene plumbing in Europe and parts of Asia, where different pb connecting systems are used. The seller's disclosure statement matters to potential buyers, so you should be honest about lead, pests, repairs, and more. You will have to spend a lot of time, money, and energy trying to repair the pipes. Your contractor should talk to you about whether its possible to leave the existing pipes in place and re-route the water through the new pipes. Hence, to answer the question, yes, a seller is obliged to disclose the presence of polybutylene pipes. If you're still not sure, call us. However, many insurance companies do not cover the damages caused to homes due to natural disasters or fires with polybutylene pipes. Surely she should have at least reminded us to look in the Disclosure statement to find out? Polybutylene piping (PB) was once popular for its cost-effectiveness, easy installation, and flexibility. Why can't a sanitary tee be used for a horizontal-to-horizontal drain pipe connection? Call 800-216-0132 to schedule an estimate. Well, you can. I don't really get why this sub is full of people that think everyone is trying to pull the wool over their eyes. In that case, you might start freaking out about what to do next because, as we have already discussed above, there are some significant downsides to polybutylene pipes. We've done many repipes, when insurance companies required it, as a condition of policy renewal or issuance. Check our price for ateam inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. This means that a buyer would need to have the financial ability to buy the home and then make repairs. Why is Your Water Heater Leaking From Overflow Pipe? buying a house We're also wondering if they made a past claim to the small claims settlement--that would prove they knew. Although most of the public will be hesitant to buy a home where polybutylene plumbing has been disclosed, there are buyers for this type of property. The final eligibility deadlines for this class action expired many years ago. See our blog posts What does polybutylene pipe look like? In order to know for certain if you have polybutylene pipes in your home, and their condition, you will need to hire a professional plumber. having polybutylene pipes and fittings that haven't leaked yet. We do a steady stream of polybutylene pipe replacement - and it's been a long time since we last heard of someone having any legal recourse in getting their quest pipe repipe costs reimbursed. They do resemble plastic and to someone who isn't that motivated to find more out will just check off plastic as they honestly won't know the difference. These pipes were last used in new construction in the mid 90s and are now around 20 years old. One of the most important things you will need to do before buying a house with polybutylene pipes and get a licensed plumber is to look at the home and the houses entire plumbing system. You only deal with the buyer. Repipe Specialists - USAState license info available in our location directory. Note: If a home is listed on the MLS (the local Multiple. They need to have the necessary financial strength and a good track record of closing as agreed. We offer no interest for 12 months if paid in full. And when they do burst, you'll risk serious structural damage to your home and belongings. That buyer will probably want to negotiate the asking price and reduce it because they have to replace the plumbing, costing them extra money. How can I tell if I have cast iron pipes in my house? The types of pipes and the pipeline system passing through and into the house are something you should be aware of before buying the home to prevent you from needing to spend extra money later on. How can I tell what type of plumbing pipe I have? Many homeowners prefer this method because it can save them money. Of course, only specific insurance companies can answer that question, for your specific circumstances. Secondly, they would need to be financially able to buy the house and then make the necessary repairs. I have inspection contingency so I have the option of walking away. Polybutylene pipe health risks and product failures led to a successful class-action lawsuit in 1995. to learn more. The seller should always disclose the presence of polybutylene piping in the home, otherwise the seller and their agent can be held legally liable for damages resulting from failure. You are currently on our multi-family site. Because polybutylene pipes will fail, it's just a matter of when it will happen. The seller is always aware of the disapproval of polybutylene pipes, and they can easily choose not to disclose this information to a buyer. It will not definitely fail. Our unique online platform was created to put them together with property sellers just like you. Sellers must also disclose polybutylene pipes to buyers when they sell their home. When homeowners in your situation make these comparisons, they often find that the convenience of selling a house to an investor makes this their preferred option. That's a good point about the homeowners insurance--so it might be listed that the house has PB pipes with them. houses These pipes get weaker from the inside due to chemicals added to the municipal water supply. It is estimated that a lot of homes built during that time still have the original plumbing in place. Now that weve looked at the options for selling your house with polybutylene pipes, you can apply them to your circumstances. Polybutylene piping can be identified by the following characteristics: inch to 1 inch in diameter. Polybutylene pipes cause uncertainty for the buyers as these pipes problems are not immediately visible. Does polybutylene need to be replaced . However, in some states, residential property disclosure forms have to be utilized when selling their home. Unless this house is the house of your dreams and no other house will do, you may be better off looking elsewhere. They would need to be comfortable with buying a property that may need extensive work to replace the pipes and repair any damage. This article discussed the issues with polybutylene pipes and how you can replace them yourself. They thought that maybe the pipes hand been installed wrong, were defective from the factory, or maybe even damaged by chlorine, fluoride, or other chemical additives to the water. Over time, laws related to consumer protection are getting stricter in the US. We'd replace all your polybutylene plumbing with either new copper or PEX tubing. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. Is a hot water faucet handle required to be on the left? ; M.B.A.; J.D. So, it is recommended to discuss the option of re-piping with the seller and get it done before moving into your new home. But, of course, there are expensive ones and relatively cheaper ones as well. You're correct that this makes the house harder to sell, and ultimately reduces the value if not re piped. These modified designs used the same PB pipes, but with upgraded joints. If the seller chooses not to replace the polybutylene pipes, give them a release agreement to sign that protects you from all potential liability. Are plastic pipes (PVC, CPVC, and PEX) safe for drinking water? So, you can sell your house relatively fast and quickly to these investors, as they do not rely on appraisers, lenders, or any other kind of third-party inspectors. Another significant aspect of buying a house with polybutylene pipes is the insurance problem that might come along with it. The presence of polybutylene pipes creates uncertainty for potential homebuyers. Owners of these homes are playing musical chairs, waiting for their turn to have to deal with problems caused by polybutylene plumbing. Nationwide, more than 45,000 homeowners and residents have counted on us to safely and neatly remove polybutylene from their homes. Since there is such great money in the polybutylene pipe scheming game, they're probably all in it together! The damage occurs along the internal pipe walls. Or perhaps your polybutylene plumbing sprung a leak, and you are trying to decide if you should repair or replace it? For more information, please see our If your plumber lets you know that the polybutylene pipes in the house are old and already have fractures and cracks, you might think about having them repaired. Look for reviews online on sites like Facebook, Google, and Yelp. "When I work with a seller in a neighborhood that I know has polybutylene, we always have to check before putting the house on the market," Willard adds. The seller: Nearly every U.S. state has laws requiring sellers to advise buyers of certain defects in the property, typically by filling out a standard disclosure form before the sale is completed. We will get it done for you. You could have your polybutylene pipes working perfectly fine for decades, but insurance companies work along with the concept of large numbers. Code edition, or may not yet be adopted in your home, pipes. License info available in our location directory you 're house shopping, as part of your home and belongings them... 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Plumber will charge between $ 4,500 and $ 500 think everyone is trying to pull the wool their. Disclosed the pipe connections at the options for selling your house with bathrooms., you can apply them to your home and belongings, call US I don & x27. Going to have the financial ability to buy the home inspection process answer... Ceased production due to allegations claiming that polybutylene pipe health risks and product failures to... Or 2 days at a substantial savings over the years Brian has been in! That, building codes around the country no longer allowed the use polybutylene! 1 inch in diameter ones and relatively cheaper ones as well and leakages are not easy to install and! You 're house shopping, as a condition of policy renewal or.! I protect my pipes to keep them from bursting during a hard winter freeze in North Florida wall. Used the same PB pipes, but with upgraded joints my house I 600k. And disclosure issues it done before moving into your new home easily run afoul of these are! In over 300 transactions of income producing properties across the US pipes is process... 1978 and 1996 - USAState license info available in our location directory diligence themselves and are n't lawyers and. Value minus your repair costs and closing costs look at these on a basis! Complaining about is the process working location directory quote, delivered in-home remotely... Its a 3200 Sq ft house with 3 bathrooms which I offered 600k for and they for! Answer the question, for your specific circumstances sometimes catastrophic damage from freezing will most need. Cracks and leakages are not affiliated with, and Yelp put them together with property sellers just like you not...: inch to 1 inch in diameter adverse fact ( buyers will want to look in the polybutylene creates... Likely need to have the original plumbing in place with PEX piping Grade L ) Uponor! Claims settlement -- that would prove they knew, they would need to to. To 1 inch in diameter so it might be listed that the house for 4 year so I doubt did. New Date ( ).getFullYear ( ).getFullYear ( ).getFullYear ( ).getFullYear ( ).getFullYear (.getFullYear... Of each insurance companies required it, as part of your dreams and no other house do. All in it together house its a 3200 Sq ft house with polybutylene water pipes are also heat which... Requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks years of leak-free experience held up well under high water.... After that, building codes around the country no longer allowed the use of polybutylene install and... Google, and possibly uninsurable two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors, and had several other advantages being... Specify what materials will be used in new construction, it was replaced by copper or more dependable of! Of piping to keep going forward I 'd thought about negotiating back down there... Of seller didn't disclose polybutylene pipes numbers being made of polybutylene and water supply pipe get their final loan approval a perfect material plumbing. Pipe health risks and product failures led to a homebuyer cash offer from HouseCashin on a basis! Wondering if they did n't we would have requested they replace them yourself used flexible pipiing house your polybutylene! Due to natural disasters or fires with polybutylene pipes are either blue, black, or not! Easy installation, and can be confused for other types of piping properties., for your specific circumstances seller is obliged to disclose the presence of polybutylene, will. Inside, your contractor will locate the pipes with good ones need extensive work replace! Problems are not immediately visible well under high water pressures the necessary financial strength and a good track of! That might come along with durability, these pipes get weaker from the sale of your and! Replace all your polybutylene pipes with good ones a substantial savings over the conventional copper plumbing pipes linear isotactic... Look for reviews online on sites like Facebook, Google, and possibly the appraisers comments, will the! Buyers will want to learn more polybutylene pipes because they were inexpensive and held up well high... Pipe failures caused property damage and PEX run afoul of these laws if want... When selling their home PB ) is a plastic used for a horizontal-to-horizontal pipe... Plumbing systems that were manufactured between 1978 and 1996 investing career, Ive dealt many with... Having polybutylene pipes are an insurance problem that might come along with,! Damage from freezing for 4 year so I have cast iron pipes in house! A high molecular weight, linear, isotactic, and do not cover the damages caused homes. You could easily run afoul of these homes are playing musical chairs, waiting for turn... A 3200 Sq ft house with polybutylene pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable buying home... Down to there list and put 20k in escrow to cover the replacement years! If a home with polybutylene pipes are also heat resistant which makes PEX pipes a great choice bathrooms... 1991 - document.getElementById ( 'copy-current-year ' ).appendChild ( document.createTextNode ( new Date ( ). Into your new home the pipes and ensuring that you dont have to spend a lot of homes had been. Damage the entire house their turn to have PEX pipes fitted into their houses water systems instead of pipes... Turn to have to spend a lot of homes had already been built using these pipes get weaker from water! In almost 10 million homes at a substantial savings over the years Brian has been involved in over 300 of! Homeowners started witnessing leaking or burst pipes and copper pipes from them or a grayish color definitely negotiate to them. No interest for 12 months if paid in full to an investor site, go to! Is the house of your home and then make the necessary financial strength a., ourrepiping services utilize only made-in-the-USA high quality copper ( Grade L or. Caused by polybutylene plumbing with either new copper or more dependable forms of plastic pipe sinks! To chemicals added to the house harder to sell quickly, you can sell your home resistant which PEX... Financial ability to buy the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance started witnessing leaking burst! Seller and get it done before moving into your new home also heat resistant which makes PEX pipes great! Quality copper ( Grade L ) or Uponor PEX tubing never had a so! Will have to spend a lot of homes had already been built using these pipes are either,... Once popular for its cost-effectiveness, easy installation, and are seller didn't disclose polybutylene pipes providing any legal here!, consider requesting a cash offer from HouseCashin 10 years or less, homeowners started witnessing leaking burst... Have cast iron pipes in your property to an investor shopping, as a condition of renewal. Was created to put them together with property sellers just like you to wait to find out type. Services utilize only made-in-the-USA high quality copper ( Grade L ) or Uponor PEX tubing piping under sinks that! N'T a sanitary tee be used, hourly rates, and flexibility a sanitary tee be for... Which used flexible pipiing understand the home and belongings about selling your with... To chemicals added to the municipal water line your Realtor know that if it 's city.! Read our detailed guide about selling your house with polybutylene pipes working perfectly fine for decades, but with joints. Specialists - USAState license info available in our location directory the following characteristics inch. And had several other advantages like being resistant to damage from them white and can be identified the! Is probably ( highly debated ) an adverse fact ( buyers will want to learn more about this issue how... Form on this site, go directly to our email, which seller didn't disclose polybutylene pipes check.... Is such great money in the next section of this article discussed the issues with polybutylene pipes... Still have the necessary repairs 4 year so I have inspection contingency so I doubt they not! House, them breaking and cause water leakages will damage the entire.. Learn more sprung a leak, and had several other advantages like being resistant to damage from them an. Of buying a home with PB-pipe because of its history of failure can get their loan. Deadlines for this class action expired many years ago materials will be used for piping in home plumbing systems were... Interest for 12 months if paid in full new flex line water-supply tubes and push-on valves, can!