Why You Should Replace Polybutylene Pipes

Sometimes an invention comes along that seems like a great idea, but turns out to be a literal bust. That is the case with polybutylene pipes, which was used in plumbing between the 1970’s and 1990’s. This blue plastic piping was very popular, thought to be the wave of the future. It turned out it is unreliable and will eventually corrode from the inside out, causing plumbing and sewer line failures. If you have polybutylene pipes in your plumbing or as your sewer line, you should replace it. Here’s why.

Repairs Will Get Expensive

Many home and business owners have opted to repair polybutylene pipes as they burst versus doing a full replacement. While this is less expensive at the time, it will not be in the long run. Running up plumbing and sewer line repairs at a few hundred dollars or more per episode will eventually cost more than replacement, which will need to be done anyway.

Possible Damage

If your sewer line breaks or a pipe bursts in your home, you can be in for expensive damage to your house and property. A broken sewer line can cause a sewer backup, creating a nasty mess, plus possible water and mold problem in your home.

It’s Not if They Will Break, It Is When

If your polybutylene pipes have not already begun to give you problems, they will. Proactively replacing polybutylene pipes will save you on repairs and damage.

Don’t wait for the next plumbing or sewer line emergency to occur. Talk to your local sewer/plumbing service company about replacing your old polybutylene pipes to protect yourself from emergency repair costs and other damage to your property.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

Sewer Lines: What Type Are Yours?

Many homeowners don’t know what their sewer lines are made of until a break or backup occurs and they find out the hard way. But by knowing what type of lines you have, you may be able to avoid further messy problems, and anticipate replacement or sewer line repair costs.

Depending your home’s age, your sewer line could be made of one of the following:

Clay – From 1900 to about 1920, clay was often used in home sewer line construction. Generally very porous, clay has a tendency to soften and crack, which leads to problems with tree roots growing inside the pipes and clogging them. 

Concrete – In the 1920s and 1930s, concrete was often used. Very prone to cracking and breaking, this material also resulted in problems with tree roots and leakages.

Cast Iron – Cast iron has been used almost since the beginning, but was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s. While extremely strong, it has a tendency to rust and corrode over time. 

Orangeburg – A very popular sewer line material from the 1950s to the 1970s, Orangeburg was made of layers of compressed layers of coal tar and wood. The trades virtually abandoned Orangeburg when it was deemed too soft and apt to deteriorate underground.

PVC – Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is the most commonly used material in modern sewer pipes because it’s durable, relatively inexpensive, resistant to chemicals and easy to joint. It is a plastic derivative that comes in either white or grey. 

ABS – Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS, is also a plastic derivative, most often seen as a black pipe. It, too, is extremely durable and heat resistant, although it can be affected by ultraviolet rays. While similar in dimension, ABS and PVC should not be used together in sewer lines because of their different expansion rates.

Most municipalities now have codes that dictate the type of material that should be used for your sewer line, usually PVC, ABS or sometimes cast iron. It is important to check with your local building department or sewer septic contractor before doing any sewer line installation or repair.