PLUMBING GUIDE
Does Your Home Have Polybutylene Pipes? What Florida Homeowners Should Know
If your home was built between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, it’s worth checking what your water lines are made of.
What polybutylene is
Polybutylene (often shortened to “poly” or PB) is a gray plastic water supply pipe that was widely installed from roughly 1978 to 1995. It was cheap and easy to install, and many homes in Pinellas County built during that period have it.
Why it’s a problem
Over time polybutylene can become brittle and crack from the inside, and its fittings can fail. Failures often happen without warning, which can mean sudden leaks inside walls, ceilings or under slabs.
How to tell if you have it
Check where pipes are visible:
- Near the water heater
- Under sinks, where the supply lines come out of the wall
- Where the main line enters the house
- In the attic, if lines run overhead
Polybutylene and insurance
Some insurance companies ask about polybutylene when writing or renewing a homeowner’s policy. If you’re shopping for coverage or planning to sell, knowing what pipe you have matters.
What repiping involves
A repipe replaces all of the supply lines with PEX or copper. In most homes the new lines run through the attic and walls, with small openings in drywall that are patched afterward. Many single-family homes can be repiped in a few days, and the work includes a permit and inspection.
