What is the cost to replace polybutylene pipes?
What can I do?
You don't want Polybutylene pipes carrying water in and out of your house. You just don't. Full stop. If you have polybutylene pipes in your house, you need to start weighing your options.
Replacing polybutylene pipes in Tucson houses is a common obstacle that homeowners have been battling for decades.
The material was popular for plumbing fixtures between 1982 and 1997 because it was cheaper than other materials like copper. However, in 1997 polybutylene pipes became the focus of a billion-dollar class-action lawsuit, according to Arrow Plumbing.
The pipe has an unusually high failure rate and has such a poor reputation that some insurance companies won't insure homes that use it.
This is a sore subject for a lot of homeowners in Arizona since The Grand Canyon State used to have more polybutylene pipe installed than almost any other.
We're going to talk about why polybutylene pipes aren't what you want running under your house, who you can ask to get your polybutylene re-piped in Tucson, and we'll talk about polybutylene pipe replacement costs in Tucson.
The problem with polybutylene
You may be unlucky in plumbing if you live in a polybutylene-fitted house. According to the Tucson Home Buyer's Guide, more than 80,000 Arizonans have reported problems with these pipes.
The guide recalled one plumber's colorful explanation of why particular pipe leaks can be devastating: "First, you hear a bang, then there's a sudden drop in water pressure. Water then starts coming from pipes you didn't know existed."
It's hard to make tight joints with polybutylene pipes, and they also deteriorate over time from exposure to chemicals like chlorine.
The Tucson Home Buyer's Guide warns that polybutylene plumbing is deceptive. It may take 10-15 years to show signs of severe deterioration, and the damage will likely be inside the pipes, not outside.
It's often very hard for home inspectors to assess the health of this particular type of plumbing unless there are clear signs of damage outside of the pipe or if it's clear the pipes were installed incorrectly.
These factors lead the guide to warn home buyers to avoid buying homes with the material if they can or to add an estimated cost of a polybutylene re-pipe into their budget.
Since it's likely polybutylene will leak eventually, some insurance companies refuse to cover houses with these pipes, and that the pipes could turn off buyers, it may be best to replace them as soon as possible.
Getting new pipes
Re-piping means just what it sounds like – replacing pipes that don't serve you anymore. Believe it or not, plumbers in Tucson are very used to replacing polybutylene pipes. It's a service some specialize in.
Cal's plumbing in Tucson bills itself as a polybutylene pipe specialist. They recommend re-piping anytime you're dealing with an older system that is frustrating you with constant leaks and repair bills.
The plumbing company says at some point, it may be more cost-effective to have the pipes pulled and replaced than continuously call in for patches and repairs.
That makes sense, but like any major home overhaul, redoing your plumbing can be very expensive. Cal's says the cost can vary depending on your situation.
The size of the house, the number of stories, and the materials you're going to buy will all affect how much you have to spend.
Another local Tucson plumber, Arrow Plumbing, estimates typical cost to replace polybutylene pipes can cost between $3,000 and $7,000.
You won't know how much money you might have to spend until you get an inspection and estimate from a professional plumber.
Sell your house "as is."
If you don't want to sink thousands of dollars into your house's plumbing and you don't want to wait for the pipes to burst in one too many places we have good news for you—we buy houses "as is!"
We don't mind taking on the challenge of replacing pipes so we can buy your house "as is."
That means you wouldn't have to do anything. No inspection, no repairs, no racking your brain over how you're going to pay for a polybutylene re-pipe in your Tucson home.
We can take care of the tough stuff. All you have to do is call one of our independently owned and operated home buying franchises and explain your situation. Then, one of our trusted local buyers can pay you a free, no-obligation home visit.
You could get a fast offer for your home and then close the deal in as little as 3 weeks. If replacing your pipes is too tall an order, We Buy Ugly Houses® Tucson is the cash home buyer to call.
