If your home was built or remodeled somewhere between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s, there’s a good chance someone has wondered, “Do I have polybutylene pipe?” It’s a fair question, and it’s worth a quick look. Many homes in Pocatello, Chubbuck, Blackfoot, and American Falls were built during that stretch, and a lot of them are still going strong. The good news is that checking is easy, and if you do have polybutylene (often called “PB” or “Poly-B”), it’s a problem you can fix on your own schedule instead of waiting for it to pick one for you.
What Is Polybutylene Pipe?
Polybutylene is a flexible plastic pipe that was used for home water supply lines, roughly from 1978 to 1995. Builders liked it because it was cheap, light, and easy to snake through walls without a lot of joints. It was sold as a modern alternative to copper.
It’s most often gray, but you may also see it in blue or black. It looks a bit like the flexible tubing used today, but it’s a very different material. It’s no longer sold for home plumbing in the United States, and it’s not something we install.
How to Spot It in Your Home
You don’t need any tools to take a first look. Here are the easy places to check:
- Around the water heater. The hot and cold lines coming off the tank are the most common place to see it.
- Under sinks and behind toilets. Look at the supply lines running into the wall or floor.
- Near the water meter or where the line enters the house. Some homes have polybutylene on the main line from the meter, too.
- Look for the stamp. The pipe is usually printed along its length with the code PB2110 or another code starting with “PB.”
- Look at the fittings. Polybutylene is commonly joined with crimp rings, which are small metal bands squeezed around the connection.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, or the pipes are hidden behind walls, that’s what a quick inspection is for. We’re happy to take a look and tell you straight what you have.
Why Polybutylene Pipe Has Problems
Here’s the part that surprised a lot of people when it came to light. The trouble with polybutylene isn’t ordinary wear and tear. It’s tied to the water that runs through it.
Public water systems commonly add chlorine and other disinfectants to keep drinking water safe. Over many years, those disinfectants can slowly break down polybutylene pipe, and the fittings that connect it, from the inside out. The pipe can become brittle and flaky, and the fittings can crack or loosen at the joints.
Because the wear happens inside the pipe, the outside can look perfectly fine. That’s why polybutylene can leak or fail without much warning. One home might go decades with no trouble, and another next door might have a leak much sooner. There’s no reliable way to predict which, and that’s a big part of why plumbers recommend replacing it rather than waiting.
A Little History
This isn’t a new issue. In the mid-1990s, a large class action in Tennessee, Cox v. Shell Oil, led to a settlement worth close to a billion dollars to help owners of homes with failing polybutylene plumbing. That settlement’s claim period has long since closed, so it isn’t something to count on today. But it tells you how widely this pipe was used and how well the problem has been documented.
What Could Go Wrong?
We don’t want to scare anyone, because most of the time this is a very manageable situation. But it helps to know what you’re protecting yourself from:
- Sudden leaks. A fitting or section of pipe can let go with little notice, sometimes while no one is home.
- Water damage. Even a small hidden leak can soak drywall, flooring, and insulation before anyone notices.
- Insurance questions. Some insurance companies ask about polybutylene when you apply for or renew coverage, so it’s worth checking with your own agent.
- Home sale headaches. Buyers and inspectors often flag polybutylene, and it can slow down a sale. Replacing it ahead of time can make that conversation a lot easier.
What Should You Do If You Have It?
The best move is a calm, simple plan:
- Have it inspected. Confirm what kind of pipe you have, where it runs, and what shape it’s in.
- Plan a repipe. The long-term fix is to replace the polybutylene with a modern material. The two most common choices are PEX and copper, and both have a long track record in homes.
- Don’t patch and hope. A repair can fix one leak, but it doesn’t change the pipe everywhere else. If you’ve had a leak, it’s smart to find out whether the rest of the system is next.
Many homeowners are relieved to learn they have a clear path forward. Once the old pipe is out, you can stop wondering about it, and your plumbing is ready for the next few decades.
Polybutylene in Pocatello and the Surrounding Area
If your home was built in the late 1970s, the 1980s, or the early 1990s, it’s worth a look, whether you’re in Pocatello, Chubbuck, Blackfoot, McCammon, Inkom, American Falls, or Downey. Plenty of homes from that era have been updated over the years, and many never had polybutylene in the first place. The best way to know for sure is to check. That goes double if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home from that period, or if you’ve had a surprise leak and don’t know why.
How Chaud Company Plumbing Can Help
We’ve been taking care of homes in southeast Idaho since 1985, and we hold license #027511. Our re-piping service is built for exactly this: we look at what you have, explain your options in plain English, and give you one clear price before we start. One price. No haggling. No surprises.
If you’ve already got a leak, whether it’s a dripping fitting or a wet spot you can’t explain, our leaky pipe and faucet repair team can track it down and get it fixed. Our work comes with a one-year labor warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is polybutylene pipe going to fail in my house?
Not every polybutylene system fails at the same pace. Some have gone many years without a leak, and others have had trouble much earlier. Because the pipe wears from the inside, it’s hard to tell by looking, which is why most plumbers recommend replacing it.
How do I know if I have polybutylene?
Check near your water heater, under sinks, and near the meter for flexible gray, blue, or black pipe. Look for the “PB2110” stamp and for crimp rings at the fittings. If you’re unsure, we can confirm it during an inspection.
What is the best replacement for polybutylene?
PEX and copper are both solid choices. We’ll walk you through the options for your home and explain what makes sense for the layout and your goals.
Will it be a mess to repipe my house?
We know a repipe sounds like a big project, and we plan the work to keep disruption as low as we can. We’ll go over what to expect before we begin so there are no surprises.
Do you work in my town?
Yes. We serve Pocatello, Chubbuck, Blackfoot, McCammon, Inkom, American Falls, and Downey.
Let’s Take a Look
If you think your home might have polybutylene, we’d love to help you find out. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, and after-hours and weekend calls are available for an extra charge.
Call Chaud Company Plumbing at 208-232-2292, text us, or email info@chaudcompany247.com. We’ll help you get answers and a clear plan.
