Poly B Replacement – Our Process
Urban Piping Ltd Offers A Complete Poly B Replacement Service Including Plumbing, Drywall, and Painting. We do not sub-contract our Poly B Pipe Replacement Services, 100% of work is done in house by Urban Piping Ltd.
1) Protect Your Home
2) Begin Poly B Replacement
Then we begin the remediation process by accessing pipes through the drywall. Old lines are pulled out of the walls and ceiling where necessary and replaced with new piping.
3) Restore Your Home
After the remediation of the poly b pipes is complete we then fix all holes in the drywall and ceiling where necessary as well as paint match your home’s paint to its original colours.
4) Clean Your Home
Then we clean the house and ensure that it is in the same condition that is was upon our arrival. After a walk through with yourself checking over our work we then settle up with you and your poly b issues are no more.
Poly B Replacement – Know The Facts
We are your local experts on Poly B Replacement. Urban Piping Ltd has completed more Poly B Replacement jobs than any other company!
What is Poly B Piping?
Poly b piping, also referred to as polybutylene piping, was a plastic piping commonly used in residential water systems throughout North America. We typically find the poly b piping in homes built between 1985-1997 and with homes that received renovations in that time frame.
Before poly b was used the common practice in Canada and you United States was to use type M or L copper lines in homes to supply hot and cold water to fixtures. Coming into the eighties we saw a major increase in commodities driving the price of copper up.
Shell and Dupoint struck up a partnership deal in the early eighties and quickly engineered a flexible grey plastic pipe called “Polybutylene” or “Poly B” for short. The wasted no time putting this product to market and there have even been reports that state members of the CSA and ASA were paid off in order to have the product quickly put on the market.
This new poly b was praised by plumbers as the most revolutionary plumbing product of the century. Poly b was inexpensive, very easy to install, and required less joints typical of copper pipelines.
Well just as everything thing else that is too good to be true, Poly b received its first document lawsuit in 1991, where most of a community in the southern USA came home to find their homes flooding with water. Since then we have seen poly b effected by some of the biggest lawsuits ever in North America.
The Life of Poly B Piping
We at Urban Piping Ltd. have extensive poly b replacement experience not only Calgary but Edmonton and all of Alberta and BC, we have typically found that poly b has developed leaks that come in waves, the first wave was around 1991 based on how the polybutylene was handled during production, transportation and installation. Polybutylene was/is a very temperamental product, the reason for it springing leaks is because the molecular bonds break apart over time, it has been shown that contact with UV light can significantly speed up the deterioration of the bonds , so if after manufacturing or transportation the poly b was left out in the sun you could be at risk. That being said it is also typical for larger plumbing company’s who built multiple houses on a street to have a flat bed truck drop off all of the materials needed on the driveways, then have plumbers designated to that area work on the houses as they got to them.
We have found that smaller plumbing company’s and home builders took better care of the product probably due to cost concerns and would not purchase the poly b piping until it was needed for a specific house, thus limiting the amount of sunlight the poly b saw.
We have also found significant evidence to support that chlorine in the water system increases deterioration of the poly b, and found city’s like Calgary with high chlorine levels in the water have been affected. We at Urban Piping Ltd. have recorded and documented enough cases to adequately state that once you get a leak you are generally affected with leaks that come every 3-6 months and will require poly b replacement.
The Cost to Replace Polybutylene Piping
Replacing Poly B Piping is becoming more and more common however determining the Cost to replace polybutylene piping can get a little complex. The damage from having Poly B pipes in homes is no longer breaking news; most houses piped with Poly B pipes are now replacing them with PEX pipe. The damage caused by Poly B piping is as a result of the chemical properties used in the production of this pipe. Ready to change your Poly B pipe to PEX pipes and you do not know how much it will cost you, this article try’s to break down the cost of replacing Poly B in such a way that it cuts across all locations.
The Cost to Replace polybutylene Piping with PEX pipe depends solely on some key factors, these are;
The size of the house to be replaced:
The bigger the house, the more the pipes to be used in replacing or fixing the Poly B piping. If you own a big structure, you should think of increasing your budget.
The materials replacement will consume:
The more the materials to be replaced the more cash is needed to get these items. Given a structure that has much plumbing fittings like showers, sinks, toilet, etc. There will be a need for more pipe to connect to all these other plumbing materials.
The type of replacement materials needed:
Considering the fact that you have chosen the PEX pipe, there are different types of PEX pipe, and their prices are different, you might want to check the less expensive option or the most expensive one. This is going to affect the total cost of replacing the Poly B pipes.
The amount of drywall that will be removed and replaced:
The more drywall removed, the more the drywall that will be replaced, this will determine the quantity of drywall that one will buy. Buying more drywall means an additional cost to the total cost or replacing poly b.
The labor:
Getting poly b replaced by an unskilled roadside plumber that will end up doing more damage and later on costing you more. One should be extremely careful not to contract quacks. Urban piping has done more Poly B replacements than any other company and all work is done 100% by Urban Piping Ltd. We do not subcontract.
Number of bathrooms in the house and whether they are stacked up above each other.
Location: The cost of things, in general, are usually affected by the location of the market unless you place direct order from the producers of the particular materials you want.
The cost of replacing Poly B piping runs typically from $7000-$20000 CAD. This is for a complete replacement without back charges.
- The cost of the parts for replacement runs from $2000-$3000 based on the above-mentioned factors
- Labor charges $4000-$8000 also based on the factors mentioned above, ranging from the local plumber to the corporate professionals.
- Dry Walls cost $4000-10000 still looking at the above-mentioned factor which is the number of drywall to be replaced.
- Painting after the job is done runs from $400-$900, of course, the size of the house to be painted matters and the quality of the paint.
- Total cost from start to finishing runs around $7000-$20000
What to watch out for while hiring
Experience:
The years one has stayed in a business should be considered while hiring. Years of practicing is what makes one an expert. Plumbers that have stayed long in the business have upper hand because they have encountered more problems than the other startup plumbers.
License:
This is key, get a licensed contractor if you can’t get one stay in the house with the Poly B pipes. The license shows that they have been approved by the government of that jurisdiction to take on plumbing jobs and they have met all necessary requirements.
Insurance:
Getting a contractor with insurance is usually not considered by homeowners. But this is a very important aspect of hiring. Your contractor should not just have insurance alone but liability and workers compensation just in case. So you won’t be incurring liability charges. This might also protect your property in case of any damages.
Review and References:
While hiring make sure you work with reviews of those that have been clients to the plumber you intend hiring. Most high-rated plumbers have websites where you can actually check for their customers’ review.
Photos:
Ask for pictures of your contractor’s previous works, if they are good at what they do they happily share the pictures with you.
Sub-contracting:
Check if the contractors are sub-contracting the job. This should not be a problem but check if the quality of the work will not depreciate. At Urban Piping, we do not sub contract and all plumbing, painting, and drywall is done in house 100% by Urban Piping.
When you get a reliable plumbing company to replace your Poly B here is the step they follow;
- Diagnose; They have a diagnose team that comes to check the cost and materials needed for replacement of the Poly B pipe. They most definitely will give you the total cost of replacingPoly B pipes.
- Protect your home; This they do by covering every area that is to be worked on by plastic wrapping them to protect them from dust or potential damages.
- Begin replacement; This is the process of removing all Poly B pipes and replacing them with new PEX A pipes which is much more preferable and durable.
- Restoration of the home; This stage is the stage where everything that was undone will be done, the broken walls are replaced back and properly filled. The house is painted back to the normal paint color it had.
- Cleaning the home; Finally, the workers take their time to clean the home to make sure it goes back to the state it was met.
Urban piping ltd is recommended to be the best at replacing Poly B pipes with years of replacements work done for over a thousand customers. You are definitely getting the best solution to your Poly B replacement no doubt.
Why Does Poly B Leak?
- High levels or free chlorine exist in the water supply causing leakage throughout the piping system.
- Improper installation of the piping in homes where fittings were installed too tight causing hairline cracks eventually ending with leakage and damages to homes.
- Improper installation of piping. When improperly installed pipes are put under stress they will cause leaks and damages to homes. This will end up in you needing poly b replacement plumbers to come into your home and access the problem.
- Installation near high heat areas including hot water tanks, in the attic, and other areas of extensively high temperatures.
- The use of acetal (white or grey) fittings to connect pipes rather than the preferred metal fittings.
Poly B to PEX Piping – Make the Switch!
Suffering water leakages and a pipe burst in your home or office? It’s probably one of those structures built in the ’80s and ’90s and was piped with the legendary Polybutylene also known as Poly B. Poly B piping was thought to be the solution to the future of plumbing until it started exhibiting leakages and pipe bursts. Majority of home owners are now renovating and switching to PEX A piping to ensure no surprise leakages will effect their homes.
Issues with Poly B Plumbing
If you own a structure with poly B piping, you should consider replacing it with the PEX A to avoid leakages and a pipe bursts. Here are some reasons you should fix Poly B and also why you should replace them with class PEX A piping as soon as possible.
- Poly B faced a number of lawsuits. Poly B fault originated from the foundation of Poly B which is the production and moves to the transportation and installation.
- Polybutylene is prone to leakages because of the breakage of its molecular bonds. What weakens the bonds of Poly B the most is the exposure to UV light prior to installation. The more sun it’s exposed to the higher the chances of leakages to occur.
- Another factor that has affected the Poly piping is the reaction to chlorine. The piping tends to deteriorate quickly in places where they have chlorine in the water like most municipal water supply systems.
Replacing Poly with a PEX A pipe is the best option when it comes to poly b replacement because their average life span is up to 50 years.
We are going to discuss PEX A piping and compare it with Poly B piping.
What is Class A PEX Piping
PEX is polyethylene that has all it’s polymer chains joined chemically as it undergoes a transformation process in the molecular structure. The polymer chains are cross-linked with each other creating a three-dimensional network, This process leads to flexible thermoset polymer, having enhanced chemical, thermal and mechanical properties.
PE means polyethylene while the X symbolizes the cross-linking. You can as well say it’s cross-linked polyethylene.
Commercial cross-linking was started in 1968 with the use of high-pressure peroxide known as PEXa. It requires the addition of liquid peroxide in a small quantity to HDPE in a monitored building under normal temperature. The next cross-linking achieved a higher and better result with pipes cross-linked up to 85 percent. Some PEX pipes have the unique ability to expand under pressure and contrast back to normal when the pressure is out. This occurs because of the flexibility of the PEX pipe.
Some Comparable Qualities – Poly B to PEX Piping
- The brief information above shows that PEX is as a result of the reaction gotten from a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This piping is used all over the world, and it is also used to replace Poly B. Currently, it’s the best.\
- The process of manufacturing anything at all is very important. Let’s examine the manufacturing process. During PEX production, the polymer chains connect with each other, and this connection is called “Cross-Linking,” this is not applicable in Poly B manufacturing process.
- One of the significant and outstanding qualities of the PEX A is pressure tolerance. The PEX A has a high-pressure tolerance capacity unlike the Poly B. Though the manufacturers of Poly B pipes have tried to improve on their pressure tolerance but to no avail.
- The PEX A pipe does not react with chlorine, but Poly B reacts with chlorine. When one Poly B gets in contact with water containing chlorine, it results to slow deterioration, ruptures and leakage of the pipe. This is different for the PEX A piping.
- The both of these products are strong to water pressure, and they do not easily get broken by water pressure but the PEX A pipe is known to be stronger and more flexible against water pressure.
- The cross-linking feature in the manufacturing process of PEX A has left the pipe to be known as the most favorable and reliable pipe to use. The Poly B does not have this Cross-linking feature as it is outdated, though the manufacturers have tried to improve on the Poly B, the product has been retired and nothing has been done.
Why Poly B Replacement to PEX A Piping
We will discuss some exceptional qualities of the PEX A pipe, that makes it the perfect pipe for the replacement of Poly B piping.
- Exceptional Flexibility; The PEX A pipe is seen to be the best because of the ability to stand impacts and freezing. It’s flexibility also allow it to withstand pressure more than any other pipe. The feature of expanding and contrasting of the pipe under pressure is as a result of its flexibility.
- Resistance to Chemicals; Chlorine comes to mind. The PEX A pipe is highly resistant to many chemicals; these are silicones, glycols, urethane foam, acid and bases, and latex paints.
- Easy to install; The PEX pipe is easy to install because of its Flexibility and a unique joining technique. This pipe requires no glue nor soldering in the process of installation, and they also do not tend to produce a flame.
- Strength; The PEX A pipe is proven to be the strongest pipe plus a top of the range pressure ratings. This means the pressure or weight of water in it does nothing to the pipe
- Reliability; This PEX A pipe is reliable in the sense that it has been in usage for over 40yrs, which makes it the right replacement for Poly B piping.
- Resistance to Corrosion; The PEX A pipe is strong and not open to corrosion from soil or water. This pipe barely leaks no matter how bad the situation is.
- Environmental Friendliness; PEX A pipe is the only pipe that has been recorded to be environmentally friendly because of the following stated reasons Bellow;
- The weight is light, and the cost of transporting it is very low
- There is no chlorine added in the production process of this PEX A unlike that of Poly B
- Efficient and fast delivery of hot water through the pipes
- Heat loss is reduced and as well as condensation
- The durability and the longevity of the PEX A pipe have passed the test of time. 50 years on the average that sounds like forever
- Production of the PEX A does not require mining of ore as do other pipes
Conclusion
The difference is now made know you can now choose which is your best pipe among these. PEX pipe is generally accepted everywhere for piping projects while the Poly B is no longer accepted. PEX A is generally the best replacement for Poly B pipes so far, because of their good features. Having a bad contractor replace or install your PEX A pipe is as bad as having a Poly B pipe in your home, so make sure you contact professionals with experience like the urban piping.
During Poly B Replacement
During remediation we find it is not the most habitable place to live, there is hikes cut in the walls and ceiling through the house, plastic isolating areas of the house and the water is off, our best recommendation is that our customers find other living arrangements for the duration of the poly b replacement and drywall work. a Poly B Remediation is typically done completely in5-8 business days.
That being said we are flexible with our customers needs and would be more than happy to come to an agreement that works best for both parties.
Poly B and Insurance
In recent years insurance companies have started to get nasty with poly b leaks and poly b replacement. Ever since the class action lawsuit was settled in 2005 insurance companies have become exempt from legally having to cover damages caused by poly b.
There are some companies that do cover poly b damage for an ” extra fee ” but beware that insurance companies will usually do whatever it takes to try and get out of loosing money. We have seen in Calgary and Edmonton numerous recent examples where an insurance company will issue a ” Multi Instance Deductible” clause, where some customers have reported having to pay 5-8 deductibles before the insurance companies will start the repair. Doesn’t sound like savings to us.
At Urban Piping Ltd. we are registered with most insurance companies and highly regarded as the number one choice for full remediation.
Poly B Lawsuits
In Canada and Calgary AB, trying to get reimbursement through a lawsuit or through insurance is no longer an option. This may be a new issue to you as a home owner but the reimbursements for a complete Poly B replacement system was only available if your system was replaced by 2005 or within 15 years of it being installed. The reimbursement for the complete system was only 25% of the system and 25% of any damages that had been caused.
CALL (403) 988-3801 NOW FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE.
CALL (403) 988-3801 NOW FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE.
What to Expect from Urban Piping Ltd.
Easy scheduling and on time appointments
Friendly and courteous plumbers that are easy to talk to.
Professional plumbers in a company uniform and clearly marked company vehicle.
Our plumber will diagnose the situation and will advise you of any necessary procedure.
Our plumbers will then get to work solving the issue in a timely manner.
Clean up is important! We work to make sure the job site is left in an acceptable manner.
Emergency Plumber? No Problem.
Contact Us Today
Urban Piping – Calgary, AB
Email: info@urbanpiping.com