Polybutylene Plumbing Pipes

If your home contains polybutylene plumbing pipes, there is a possibility that these pipes may leak at any time without warning. Polybutylene pipes are gray flexible plastic pipes which are joined together by crimped connections. These connections have been known to leak due to shrinkage of the pipes at the crimped area through the aging process and temperature cycling. Polybutylene has been replaced on the market by a white or red flexible pipe typically called PEX which does not exhibit the same characteristics. A home inspector can alert you as to whether polybutylene exists in a home's plumbing system. For more information concerning polybutylene pipes, contact The Consumer Plumbing Recovery Center at 1-800-356-3496 or visit www.pbpipe.com .