How Do You Identify Poly B Piping?

So, now you’re worried whether your home has Poly B piping? Remember that it is installed in around 25 percent of all Calgary homes.

The most common usage of Poly B occurred between 1985 and 1997, so start by finding out the date that your home was built.

It’s important to know if your home could develop a leak problem—or, if you’re buying a home, you’ll certainly want to know if you’re going to have to replace the plumbing system.

So, how can you identify Poly B in your plumbing system?

Here are a few pointers:

• Check colour: if your piping is silvery gray, black or blue it is likely Poly B.
• Look for Poly B stamping: your pipes should have an easily identifiable stamp, with the letters “PB” followed by a string of numbers.
• Check common locations: certain areas of homes were popular for Poly B usage, namely the main water shut-off valve outside homes, basement ceilings and walls, sink feeds, toilets, bathtubs, and around the hot water heater.
• Dig deeper: just because you don’t see Poly B doesn’t mean it’s not in your home. Sometimes, behind the walls, Poly B is connected to copper piping out of sight, so remove panels behind toilets, tubs, sinks, and showers to check there.
• Check plumbing fittings: if you see aluminum, copper, or brass crimp fittings, the plumber may have used it to link Poly B pipes to plumbing joints and fittings, so this is a good place to check.

Why Do Leaks Occur With Poly B Piping in Calgary Homes?

As already mentioned, the use of Poly B in plumbing is a well-established cause of leaks in the home.

But why?

It was largely because the people recommending, selling, and fitting the pipes had not done their homework on the material that they were using.

Polybutylene is:

• Vulnerable to ultraviolet light, making it unsuitable for use outdoors.
• Generally designed for less than 70 pounds pressure (certainly no more than 100 to 105 pounds). 70 pounds is the average water pressure and it often spikes over this, meaning that it can degrade and develop cracks (especially where water needs to make sharp turns in the system).
• Weakened by high temperatures.
• Weakened by the presence of chlorine, chloramine and other oxidant chemicals used in water treatment.
• These problems are only exacerbated if cheap plastic fittings were used in your system as another cost-cutting measure. These fittings can degrade and become brittle over time, causing leaks.

What Are the Alternatives to Poly B Piping?

Apart from reverting to tried and tested (and expensive) copper, are there any other options for Poly B replacement?

One interesting and affordable alternative is PEX or Cross-Linked Polyethylene.

This is a flexible tubing option that is far more durable and resistant to pressure and temperature than Poly B. Therefore, it is far less susceptible to degradation and leaks.

This smart solution has been used in Europe since the 1960s but is having a new lease of life here in Calgary as people discover its potential to affordably replace Poly B.