Choice #2: Repipe Your Home and then Sell It. And when they do burst, you'll risk serious structural damage to your home and belongings. Better, but not a total solution. Supporting this claim, the industry points to the extensive and continued successful use of polybutylene plumbing in Europe and parts of Asia, where different pb connecting systems are used. for ateam inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. How can I tell if I have cast iron pipes in my house? Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. Polybutylene (PB) piping was standard in homes built between 1978 and 1996. They dont have to rely on lenders, appraisers, or third-party inspectors. Almost all real estate listing agents require the seller to disclose the use of polybutylene pipes in the property. You will have to spend a lot of time, money, and energy trying to repair the pipes. Polybutylene is also no longer an approved plumbing material for potable water systems in building codes across the US. You should understand that repiping in copper, or copper and CPVC is going to be expensive, and estimates are going to vary, so taking off a large chunk of the purchase price of a home may not cover the expense or the hassle. 3. Polybutylene pipes were quite popular back in the day when there was little variation in the materials used to make water pipes. Visit ourPLUMBINGpage for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles. If you decide to replace Polybutylene pipes in your home, that is good. Looking for your dream house can be difficult; finding a home that you like and a place that has exactly what youve been looking for can be challenging and time-consuming as well. loans (They've lived in the home since 1990 and the husband has done a lot of DIY work in the home so it's unlikely he didn't know about the PB piping). Hence, to answer the question, yes, a seller is obliged to disclose the presence of polybutylene pipes. The polybutylene pipes should have come to light during the home inspection or as part of seller . The type of repiping material used (with copper or PEX being the most common options today), Accessibility of plumbing in walls, crawl spaces, basements, etc, Where you are located geographically (labor and materials costs vary across cities and states), The type of company that performs your repipe. Call today at 954-734-7429 or 1-888-8-Insurance. . If you have time to sell but you dont have the funds to make the needed repairs, you will probably want to consider selling to an investor. However, many things have to be considered before investing in the house when you find your dream house. Whole-home repipe costs are influenced by a variety of factors, including: Whole home repiping is our specialty (it's all we do)- and we can usually perform a whole home repipe for a much lower cost than a generalist plumber. Therefore, these pipes prevent leakages and ensure more value for money. In 2017, a new polybutylene class-action was filed with Hurt v. Shell Oil, which attempted to include homeowners left out in the prior 1995 settlement. A buyers mortgage lender will possibly require more extensive inspections that hold up your closing. Would we have a case since they lied on the disclosure? When you sell directly to an investor, you dont have the. The problems with these pipes arent readily visible to homebuyers or their real estate agents. However, you cant repair polybutylene pipes because these pipes production ceased quite a long time ago. You dont have to wait to find out if your home appraised successfully or if the lender will even accept your property. They were often sold under the brand name Quest, and can be referred to with a variety of terms; including PB, PB-1, poly-pipes, or poly-b pipe. Why is it a problem? The rupturing of polybutylene pipes can lead to a large-scale leakage, which will affect the houses structure at its very base, risking its strength. Just my opinion. When it comes to removing polybutylene and installing a new plumbing system, our team of professionals exceeds all customer expectations. The second option would consume some of your money and time, but the good part is that it would result in a higher selling price for your home. However, if you know you have poly plumbing - you will most likely need to disclose that fact. This could potentially make you liable for lawsuits from your buyer. That would confirm your plumbing is polybutylene. Even though most potential buyers would hesitate to go for a house with polybutylene pipes, there are always specific buyers interested in it these type of properties, as we have discussed earlier. Most of our repipes fall somewhere between $4,500 and $15,000. Here's what the law requires on a seller's disclosure in Wyoming. Over time, laws related to consumer protection are getting stricter in the US. After all, they are so tiny. apartment Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable? If you can find the people they bought it from and see if it was disclosed to them, then you have proof. Does a Seller Have to Disclose the Presence of Polybutylene Pipes in the Home? Therefore, unfortunately, getting the polybutylene pipes in your house fixed or exchanged is no option. The price of PEX pipes ranges between $0.40 to $2.0 per linear foot, depending on the diameter of the pipe. Some states' disclosure laws are more comprehensive than others, and if a feature isn't on the list the seller may not be required to speak up. What is Polybutylene Pipe? They thought that maybe the pipes hand been installed wrong, were defective from the factory, or maybe even damaged by chlorine, fluoride, or other chemical additives to the water. Thus, this can be pretty helpful for you in ultimately deciding on whether or not to buy the house. However, the seller must be truthful if asked, unless state law allows them to say that they don't wish to answer. Call 800-216-0132 to schedule an estimate. Inside, your contractor will locate the pipes in your home. Found mainly in the southern US. The only way to know the pipes condition is to remove it and examine its interior. even obtaining homeowners insurance even if the pipes don't cause any problems because there is such a stigma against these particular pipes. If they have not failed yet, thats hardly an endorsement of their condition. The breaking or cracking of pipes means that the water running through these pipes will now have a way to leak into the houses structure and cause long-term damage. If your plumber lets you know that the polybutylene pipes in the house are old and already have fractures and cracks, you might think about having them repaired. The plumber will also help you identify any potential threats and risks the polybutylene pipes pose to the house. Polybutylene (PB) piping was standard in homes built between 1978 and 1996. Look for reviews online on sites like Facebook, Google, and Yelp. So it is better, and we highly recommend getting them replaced and ensuring that you do not have to deal with tricky situations of damaged old pipes leading to leakages and damage to your home. You should discuss with them the different kinds of pipes available and the cost of each. There is quite a common misconception that replacing polybutylene pipes costs a lot of money and is likely to break the bank. Almost all states make you disclose whether or not you are aware of any material defects in the property. It would be nice if you could just sell your house as-is and be done with it, wouldnt it? Even if you get a section of polybutylene pipe where the leakage or fracture is repaired, another major fracture is most likely found in a different area. What is a "combination waste and vent" in a plumbing system? First, the buyer would need to be comfortable purchasing a home that requires extensive work to repair the damaged pipes. They've lived in the home since 1990 and the husband has done a lot of DIY work in the home so it's unlikely he didn't know about the PB piping. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. Our work is 100% guaranteed for life, and we are fully licensed in the states where we operate. So, if you're absolutely in love with a home with polybutylene piping, have your real estate agent ask the seller to either . Exterior repiping will add to that estimate. Interior pipes are white and can be confused for other types of piping. Over the years Brian has been involved in over 300 transactions of income producing properties across the US. In the US, it has become generally accepted that the failures are most likely due to chemicals in municipal water supplies reacting with polybutylene - and this is one of the primary reasons why homeowners won a largeclass-action lawsuit against Shell Oil (who manufactured and marketed the polybutylene resin). The second option will take more time and money but it may result in a higher price for your home. The contractor will repair and repaint those sections before finishing the job. Facts vs. Fiction 6. Can You Get Home Insurance With Polybutylene Pipes? The majority of polybutylene plumbing installed is still installed and working fine. buying a house You could have your polybutylene pipes working perfectly fine for decades, but insurance companies work along with the concept of large numbers. I went back over our original contract and in the Disclosure Statement the seller checked "plastic" instead of "polybutylene." When temperatures rise and fall, poly pipes will expand and contract. They buy houses for cash so that they dont depend on a lenders approval of their loan, unlike most buyers. When polybutylene leaks occur in US plumbing systems, the leaks are often at or near connectors. Water supply piping only, not used for drains or vents. The insurance agent gave me the quote without the pipe information and it was way too high so I forgot about the pipe question until now. PB-1, when applied as a pure or reinforced resin, can replace materials like metal, rubber and engineering polymers. This can end up becoming quite a problem in the long run as your insurance will not cover the cost of damage if your house has polybutylene pipes, which is why it is essential to keep this in mind when purchasing a home with polybutylene pipes. My house is more than 125 years old, and I dread having to sell it to someone like this. If Members of the general public who are working with a broker will be looking at multiple properties. You sell your home without having to spend the time and money needed to fix it. Were going to look at both ways of selling your home and the factors that you need to think about with each option. 4. Why is polybutylene piping bad? house These pipes were last used in new construction in the mid 90s and are now around 20 years old. Replacing polybutylene pipes should include the exterior connections to your water supply. Along with durability, these pipes are also heat resistant which makes PEX pipes a great choice. High Desert . In summary: if you've actually experienced a poly pipe leak - the best option is unquestionably to do a complete, whole-home repipe. After that, building codes around the country no longer allowed the use of polybutylene pipes in new construction. Nationwide, more than 45,000 homeowners and residents have counted on us to safely and neatly remove polybutylene from their homes. Since every individuals situation is unique, a qualified professional should be consulted before making financial decisions. Our passion for perfection continues to serve our customers year after year. For this, you will need to start interviewing contractors and checking their references. Our expertise shows in every repipe we do and is with you every step of the way. I emailed our Realtor and she never responded. Another significant aspect of buying a house with polybutylene pipes is the insurance problem that might come along with it. To find a minuscule crack in the polybutylene pipes, one would need a very efficient plumber, and even then, it would be not easy to identify. if the sellers had disclosed the pipe material in the beginning. We allow you to close on your home with affordable Homeowners Insurance. Seller didn't disclose polybutylene pipes in the Disclosure Statement My SO and I have a bid on a house in North Carolina and are in the due diligence period. How does repiping a house work? We repipe both residential homes and multi-family complexes. I just bought a house in N.C. and I spent $425 on the home and pest inspection and another $275 on the septic inspection, which included draining the tank and doing a camera inspection. The property will have to be fixed before closing if a mortgage is involved. Within 10 years or less, homeowners started witnessing leaking or burst pipes and sometimes catastrophic damage from them. What to Know When Buying a Home With Polybutylene? What is a "combination waste and vent" in a plumbing system? Even home inspectors cant tell you how far along the damage has progressed. There were lawsuits including a class action lawsuit involving the pipes and disclosure issues. Contact us by phone or email with any questions, or to schedule a no-obligation in-home (or remote) consultation with one of our Estimators. The kind of pipes you use to replace them, The size of your home and how many stories it has, Whether or not the work includes exterior water supply connections, the availability of the inspecting plumber and the contractor, if you have good weather for any exterior work, the average Days On Market (DOM) for resale homes in your area. We completed all our inspections (structural, septic, water, pest, home), the bank ordered the appraisal, the Realtor hired the attorney. Note: If a home is listed on the MLS (the local Multiple. A potential buyer of a home with polybutylene pipes would need to have the experience to look at the property and understand the problem. B. What are the abandoned pipes sticking out of the wall in my house? 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