Poly-B Plumbing Lines: Impact for Both Sellers and Buyers!
In the South Okanagan, real estate professionals began to see – as far back as 8 years ago – insurance claims rising for leaks caused by what is known as Poly-B (polybutylene) plumbing pipes. Today we see a very real challenge from Insurance underwriters covering homes with Poly-B plumbing lines – because of potential product failure. In general, insurance companies will not issue a new homeowner’s policy if polybutylene pipes are present. There is simply too much liability for an underwriter as they are more likely to break down, burst, and damage one’s home.
How can you tell if you have Poly-B plumbing? If you look in your basement and see thin white plastic tubes snaking across the ceiling (called PEX) – these are okay. Poly-B piping is generally dark grey in color with copper connections and elbows. You can easily identify if your home has Poly-B piping, by removing a few ceiling tiles in your basement, or in your utility room to have a look at the pipes in the ceiling. They are usually everywhere once you find them. Poly-B tended to be installed in homes in Canada between the mid 80’s to early 1990’s, and if you’ve ever had a leak in the past, it was very likely due to Poly-B lines weakening.
If you’re planning to sell, is it better to replace Poly-B prior to listing?
A complete eradication can be very intrusive. Piping will ultimately be behind shower walls, kitchen cabinets, the main line going out to the street, and more. As a Realtor®️, if I can confirm “Poly-B” when meeting with clients, I will always advise the seller that they should be replaced prior to listing the home. Fewer and fewer insurance companies will offer new policies in such a circumstance, and this could have an affect on your home’s saleability.
If you are thinking of selling, let’s have a discussion! Based on my many years of experience, and contacts within Penticton, I can assist you with the planning to find a contractor to have this piping removed. These days, any offer to purchase (the buyer) will expect this to be solved before the home closing. This is becoming so big an issue that in Penticton we have companies specializing in Poly-B replacement. Selling in the future? If you make this upgrade preventively, before any leaks occur, you’ll be avoiding potential water damage costs that could be much higher. The cost to replace all your Poly-B with PEX is typically $6,000 to $15,000 for the pipes themselves, plus remnant repairs to walls, showers, tiles, and front lawns.
Are you a Buyer?
If you are looking at a property installed with Poly-B, as a professional Realtor®️ I am trained to look and will point this out to you, and we would ask for remediation in any offer. Even in today’s market, you can consider adding a condition to your offer and bringing this information to your insurance company’s attention. Most insurance companies are willing to add a rider that gives you, as the successful buyer, 60 days after closing to replace the piping. If a seller does not disclose that Poly-B is present, if there ever was a water damage claim in the future, the insurance company may not pay, so arranging for a home inspection as a condition on your offer, is always a great idea.
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