POLYBUTYLENE

One of the most renowned and significant lawsuits in the plumbing industry dealt with the replacement of the polybutylene water pipe used in the construction of millions of homes and commercial buildings in the late 70’s through the mid 90’s. During this period the construction industry, in many of the warmer states, was flourishing. At that time the co-polymer plastic pipe was considered to be the “pipe of the future”. This “pipe of the future” was also used in many other areas of the country. Its’ uses included both underground water mains and interior water distribution lines. Interior polybutylene pipe is easily recognized by its bluish gray or white color.Coming in from the outside this pipe will typically be attached to your main shutoff valve located close to your hot water heater. These exterior lines may be blue, gray or even black. What causes polybutylene pipes to deteriorate can be attributed to the oxidants in the water. With the increased usage of chemicals like chlorine and other bacteria fighting ingredients significantly more failures occurred. These oxidants react with the polybutylene making it brittle and help in the development of micro cracks in the pipe. Just looking at the pipes may not give you any indication that there is a problem because the erosion and cracks start on the inside of the pipe.

KITEC

KITEC was manufactured by a Canadian thermoplastics company, Ipex, Inc, and in the United States , by their subsidiary, Ipex USA LLC. It was first introduced into the U.S. market in 1995. According to the manufacturer KITEC is “an engineered composite pipe made from flexible aluminum tubing –permanently bonded between layers of durable polyethylene – KITEC® XPA™ can be installed directly below grade or encased in concrete without additional protection. Its tough cross-linked polyethylene outer and inner layers provide excellent corrosion resistance, while its aluminum core provides a built-in permeation barrier against ground source contaminants such as termiticide. The result is years of reliable service, even in harsh soil and water conditions where the use of copper should be avoided.” The alleged construction defect relates to KITEC’s brass fittings, not to the company’s plastic pipe.

The issue is a chemical reaction known as dezincification, which accelerates corrosion in brass fittings when they are exposed to oxygen and moisture. Brass is an alloy that is primarily composed of copper and zinc. When fittings experience dezincification, zinc leaches out of the brass fittings,leaving a blockage of zinc oxide that leads to leaks, restricted water flow, and breakage.

PEX

PEX is an abbreviation for Cross-linked polyethylene. PEX is made from high density polyethylene (HDPE). PEX is formed into tubing, and used predominantly in hydronic radiant heating systems, domestic water piping, insulation for high voltage electric cables, natural gas and many other applications.

The first PEX material was prepared in the 1930s, by irradiating the extruded tube with an electron beam. In the 1960s, Engel cross-linking was developed. In this method peroxide is mixed with the HDPE before extruding, with the cross-linking taking place during the passage of the melted polymer through a long heated die. In 1968, the Sioplas process using silane was patented, followed by another silane-based process, Monosil, in 1974. A process using vinylsilane followed in 1986.

Cross-linking is a chemical reaction that occurs between polyethylene chains. Cross-linking causes the polyethylene to become stronger and resistant to cold temperature brittleness while retaining flexibility. Through one of several processes, links between polyethylene molecules are formed to create channels (thus the tenure “cross-linked”). There are currently three methods for producing PEX tubing, the “Engle” or “Peroxide” (PEX-A) method, the “Silane” (PEX-B) method, and the “E-beam” or “Radiation” (PEX-C) method. Alphabetical order is irrelevant and not related to any type of rating system in production. The degree of cross-linking required by standard is based on the material and methods used to produce PEX tubing.

COPPER
Homeowners With Copper Plumbing Are Not Immune To Problems Although copper piping is the premier material for water pipes it is not immune to potential problems. Variations in water PH levels and development of microorganisms that attack copper can produce pinhole leaks that may develop into major problems for the homeowner. There is currently a class action suite being prepared to address this concerning issue.

GALVANIZED
Galvanized pipe is a steel pipe covered with a protective coating of zinc that greatly reduces its tendency to corrode and extends its life expectancy. It may be used in residential water supply lines, but not gas lines because natural gas causes the zinc to flake off and clog the system. It’s not frequently used for water supply lines because the minerals in the water react with the galvanizing material and form scale, which builds up over time and will eventually clog the pipe. Galvanized pipe was commonly used for water supply lines many years ago, but over time many have filled with scale, which is why some older homes suffer from low water pressure. Hard water greatly reduces the life of steel pipes.