Poly-B…what’s it all about?

Most houses built in the 70s and 80s have Poly B pipe fittings in their plumbing systems. These pipes were promised to be the future of water lines with over a guaranteed thirty years of smooth running. However, when people started facing problems in just ten years, their businesses crashed. Today these pipes that you can recognize by their grey plastic bodies have become the cause of multiple plumbing troubles and even several lawsuits. Knowing if you have poly B pipes in your house is crucial so you can call the bathroom renovation companies near you to replace them.

Here is everything you need to know about poly B pipes-

What is Poly B Material?

Plumbing systems are an essential requirement in every household. Old houses had copper pipelines that were too difficult to work with and were quite expensive. When the need arose, Poly B pipes were created to increase the comfort of plumbers. They are easy to install, quite flexible, and inexpensive. 

What are the Issues with Poly B Pipes?

  • Leakages: The pipes began slow leakages because they were fastened together with copper fasteners. When there was a water pressure variance, they began to leak and eventually caused moulds and other issues. If poly B pipes are leaking, call water leak detection and repair near you to avoid further damage.
  • Freezing: Poly B pipes require your homes to be winterized or adequately insulated. If not, they froze when the temperatures went down and burst.
  • Bursting: Initially, poly B pipes do not have any issues, but over time they suddenly cause exploding problems. The problem occurred because they look strong on the outside but are pretty weak on the inside. If you hear hissing sounds in your walls, ‌contact an emergency plumber near you.
  • Degradation: Poly B pipes cannot handle chlorine and hot water. Since a majority of houses are connected to municipal outlets that rely on chlorine as a preservative to keep the water pathogen-free, houses soon began facing degradation problems. Most homes also needed hot water and would start bursting or leaking and had to call hot water heater repair near them to resolve the issues.
  • Cracks: Carefully installing the poly B pipes is very important. They could crack if not correctly installed. They also started cracking if the fittings were too tight and would leak if the fitting were too loose.

What To Do if You Have Poly B Pipes?

If you notice you have grey or black-coloured pipes with “PB 2110” markings that are attached together with brass or copper fitting rings, you should contact plumbing contractors to replace them.

About Kingstree Plumbing

Looking for a plumber?

Check out Kingstree Plumbing! We provide commercial services, including plumbing repair, installation, water softeners, water heaters, gas fittings, sump pumps, humidifiers, and whole-house re-piping.

It’s our goal to ensure you have an operational plumbing system you can always rely on, regardless of the type of issues you may experience.

Our professional plumbers offer only quality services to you, helping you keep your plumbing systems in good operating condition with efficient repairs and replacement when necessary.

Fill out our contact form for regular services and more information, or call 780-695-2792 for emergency services.

About The Author

Darren, Founder of Kingstree Plumbing, started in the trades over thirty years ago in England and has been plumbing for 17 years. He wrote his Red Seal certification upon immigrating to Canada in 2009. Living with his family in the Sherwood Park area, Darren found a community he loved. Kingstree Plumbing grew out of a desire to give back to the community that welcomed them so graciously.
sidebar-cta-repairs
sidebar-cta-careplan
sidebar-cta-installations

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Comments