Would you buy a house with polyethylene pipping

Question

Hi all, I just put in an offer for a house built in 1994. It's an otherwise great house except it has the dreaded polyblus... It has an unfinished basement so if need be, it wouldn't be terribly bad to replace the exposed pipping but the 2nd story level would be another question.

So my question is whether it's worth getting and taking a chance? Or should I find a good plumber to replace it all? My intent is to buy and hold.

Thanks!!

So my question is whether it's worth getting and taking a chance?  Or should I find a good plumber to replace it all?  My intent is to buy and hold.

Thanks!!

Jay Y. · Answer

So my offer didn't get accepted, oh well.  At least I won't have to ask this question again, thanks guys!!!

Don Meinke · Answer

First rule of pex.  EACH fixture gets a home run supply.  Its own line.  IF your going to put 2 or 3 fixtures on one run it should be 3/4 or 1" and then manifold off that.  A quarter turn shut off for each line so you can isolate repairs etc.  one you dont need a ladder OR tools to get to.  (I put my shutoffs BELOW the finished floor in the basement,,,in case of a leak/ drip no damage to finished areas.

First I bought the manifolds with s.o. (shutoffs) on the manifold.  Upon thinking more,,, the valves are the most problematic so got them without and put s.o. inline on each one.  If I have to take one out and replace it MUCH EASIER THAN A MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT. Dont know how to replace one without butchering the system

ANY way you can splice a pex to old pipe and pull it down thru same spot?  If it works less wall cutting and patching.  I would do this all NOW when house is vacant and NO damage has occurred .  Fixing damage and replacing pipes as a tenant is complaining in your ear is not as much fun

Matthew Paul · Answer

all depends on the house layout and how good the plumber is .

Marty Gordon · Answer

There are benefits to pex piping.  You can do continuous runs with zero 90's which actually provides better flow.  That particular brand of pex you have has smaller insert type fittings with the crimp ring system so I wouldn't use it.  There is another brand called Wirsbo or Uponor that uses slightly larger diameter fittings and doesn't have 'crimp' rings.  It has a flaring tool with expansion rings that slip over the fittings and shrink back down over to compress and seal.  It's much better in my opinion.  I would never use copper for anything these days except where stubbing out through the wall in an exposed area.  EVERY LEAK that I've ever fixed was a copper sweat joint.  Wirsbo is pretty darn good.  Plus, no condensation on the cold line.

Jay Y. · Answer

Ok, that's what I figured.  Any rough estimates on changing it?  As I said the unfinished basement makes it easier to replace the first story but the second story will be a bear.  When repipping, can the new pipe be ran through the old pipping or will the walls need to be cut open?  Thanks again!

Charles Morgan · Answer

I agree, I would buy it. I have two places with that. I would like to add that replacing it with PEX should be pretty straightforward as a do-it-yourself for the first floor. The holes for the old stuff may not be big enough for PEX but that should be easy to figure out.

I just redid a mobile with PEX and it went quite smoothly after we got the hang of it. The bad thing about PEX is flow rate. A 1/2 inch PEX does not handle the same flow as 1/2 inch copper or PVC,  that is why the use of a splitter(manifold) is common in larger installations. Just a toilet and sink on a 1/2 inch will slow down the sink when toilet is flushed.

Michael Campbell · Answer

As other have said, this wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.  Just be sure to factor in additional maintenance or make sure the numbers still work if you have to replace the piping.

Mike Wood · Answer

I would buy it, but price it with the expectation of replacement. The polybutylene fittings will fail, just a matter of time. I bought a condo with it and it failed. Just be aware and have some money set aside for when you get the call.

Jim Adrian · Answer

If you are worried about pipes leaking, this can happen to any house at any age.  My 8yr old house had a broken PVC joint when I bought it.    As for the website page its 13 years old based on 2003 copyright.