Poly Butylene Plumbing

[Chuckz]

Regarding the comparison between PB and PEX, I found information at www.vanguard.ca, a manufacturer of PEX. In their Q&A page, they indicate both PB and PEX have similar freeze burst characteristics. Both PB and PEX have similar water pressure capabilities with PB somewhat better at higher temperatures. It seems the problems with PB focus around the connection type (plastic vs copper or brass) and how they are crimped. Plastic connections appear to be the cause of leaks as they are more prone to fail over time. I am trying to gain some factual information regarding PB and how it performs. Statements about PB always appear to be negative. I believe PB has been around since 1978. During that time thousands of MF homes were built and I assume most with PB. Were the most failure prone ones using plastic fittings? What else is known about specific problems with PB?

[Al Boyett]

We just had some of the plumbing lines replaced with the polybutylene tubing. This is after a garage fire that burned all of the black waste pipe and blackened a lot of the copper. My question is: is this polybutylene really a safe product? What is the chemical makeup? With all of the talk about bad plastic these days, should I have the plumber come back and give us back our copper?

Please reply, Al Boyett
[email protected]

[Roy T. Bonney]

If this was recently replaced, within the last couple of years, I would suspect, that what was used was in fact PEX, cross linked polyethelene. This is the new generation of this type of plumbing system, and appears to perform well.