Polybutylene Plumbibg?

[jmichalski]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

Yes, that is a point another member made. Thanks for the help.

Didn't (and still don't) see a reference to the copper tubing being inappropriate for gas - I saw a discussion of potable water tubing.

If it's there and I overlooked it, then "good work" to whomever.

[Harold E. Miller]

http://www.polybutylene.com/poly.html

Greg,
No doubt that it is PB. See the link above for some nice ID pics.

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

Here is a manifold picture I took of a plumbing re-pipe with PEX.
It was labeled AquaPex,

just an fyi to note the differences.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

I am just curious; Do they not cover Polybutylene piping in the Home Inspection schools or courses? There has been a plethora of rudimentary questions recently on the BB about PB lately (and in the recent past) and I am just wondering what do they cover in HI schools today. If they aren't covering this and all the inherent problems anyone paying for that education is getting ripped off and the schools are leaving HI open for some serious problems.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by dedwards

I am just curious; Do they not cover Polybutylene piping in the Home Inspection schools or courses? There has been a plethora of rudimentary questions recently on the BB about PB lately (and in the recent past) and I am just wondering what do they cover in HI schools today. If they aren't covering this and all the inherent problems anyone paying for that education is getting ripped off and the schools are leaving HI open for some serious problems.

Certainly make you wonder Doug.....

[Harold E. Miller]

Originally Posted by dedwards

I am just curious; Do they not cover Polybutylene piping in the Home Inspection schools or courses? There has been a plethora of rudimentary questions recently on the BB about PB lately (and in the recent past) and I am just wondering what do they cover in HI schools today. If they aren't covering this and all the inherent problems anyone paying for that education is getting ripped off and the schools are leaving HI open for some serious problems.

I think it is regional differences. Here in Washington State I have only seen one stick built with PB, but most of the Manufactured homes I see have PB. I have heard that there are states where alot more PB has been used.

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

Didn't (and still don't) see a reference to the copper tubing being inappropriate for gas - I saw a discussion of potable water tubing.

If it's there and I overlooked it, then "good work" to whomever.

It was PM'd to me.

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by dedwards

I am just curious; Do they not cover Polybutylene piping in the Home Inspection schools or courses? There has been a plethora of rudimentary questions recently on the BB about PB lately (and in the recent past) and I am just wondering what do they cover in HI schools today. If they aren't covering this and all the inherent problems anyone paying for that education is getting ripped off and the schools are leaving HI open for some serious problems.

I had studied about PB and knew that it needed to be called out. What had thrown me was the way this was structured. It looked like the propane distribution centers that I had seen.

[wforsyth]

Although I do remember seeing this before. So that is another thing that caused me some difficulty.

http://www.copper.org/applications/f...pecifying.html

http://www.copper.org/applications/f...es/t1-gas.html


Table 1 - Copper Tube: For Gas Installation - Type Gas
Color Code Yellow Standard ASTM B 837 Application Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gas
Commercially Available Lengths (1) Nominal or Standard Sizes Drawn (2) Annealed (3) STRAIGHT LENGTHS: 3/8-inch to 1 1/8-inch 12 ft 12 ft 20 ft 20 ft COILS: 3/8-inch to 7/8-inch — 60 ft — 100 ft Notes:
(1) Individual manufacturers may have commercially available lengths in addition to those shown on this table.
(2) Drawn (hard) temper tube has higher strength than annealed tube and is supplied in straight lengths only. Annealed (soft) temper tube has a lower strength than drawn tube but is easily bent or formed. Annealed tube is available in straight lengths and continuous coils.
(3) Available as special order only.

[Christopher Currins]

They covered it several times in my classes in Illinois at Pro Star Academy. That it was used a lot in HUD homes and there was a recall because of the fittings coming apart and that it was against local codes in many areas. If you saw it, put it in your report as that.

[Paul Tos]

Is that a floor heating system manifold? If so, are those systems required to be isolated with back flow preventers or other means? Never seen one, thx for the pic.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

I was just curious. I see it all the time in all ranges of homes from MH to many older homes that were retrofitted from gavanized to PB. It was used extensively because of the ease of installation especially in retrofitting existing plumbing. Unfortunately it proved to be a disaster. Someone on one post said it had been recalled, to my knowledge that is not the case but there were a couple of class action lawsuits paid out. It was manufactured up as late as 1995 by most accounts. There just seems to be a lot of confusion about it by HI particularly recently. If I were not familiar with it I would learn all I could due to the potential risks of misidentifying it or not stressing the history of problems it has experienced. If you see any, be wary of there being more hidden in walls and crawl spaces. Sometimes I find PB risers going to sinks and toilets coming from standard stop valves, then later find the entire house is PB in the crawl space, typically with major corrosion on the brass sections, crimps and most often seeping and leaking around elbows, couplings , etc. Take lots of pictures to protect yourself later. Sometimes PEX can be mistaken for PB but it usually is clearly marked as such. I recommend going to HD or Lowe's and familiarize yourself with what is out there in your area. Generally, you will find what the locals are using in these two Home Centers. Besides, you can write off as a business trip on mileage.

[dhelm]

Originally Posted by swaskewicz

Here is a manifold picture I took of a plumbing re-pipe with PEX.
It was labeled AquaPex,

just an fyi to note the differences.

Another fyi; Pex doesn't just come in clear. I've seen it red (hot water), blue (cold water), orange (radiant heat systems) and it may come in others too.

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

Yes, thanks David. My Daughter's recent house purchase is using all Hot(Red) and Cold(Blue) with PEX, and I must say, it sure is nice going around corners, as well.

From my reading about it, it should last a heck of a lot longer than PB...

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

And Paul, that was only for their sinks, they didn't have any radiant floors that I could find...