Polybutylene pipe health risks and product failures led to a successful class-action lawsuit in 1995. All I can really say is good luck! By the 1990s, however, problems had begun to surface. You should discuss with them the different kinds of pipes available and the cost of each. In this case, some buyers might demand you to replace the existing polybutylene pipes, and some might ask for a reduction in price so they can re-pipe the home after theyve bought it. The seller may not want to take the home off the market to have the work done, which includes ripping out a lot of drywall, and there are a lot of properties with this kind of problem. Along with durability, these pipes are also heat resistant which makes PEX pipes a great choice. Houses are expensive things to own and unexpected bills can come up at any time. Mandatory disclosure (M) of pipe material (lead not specifically addressed) or lead pipes if seller determines conditions unsafe (Example: State-required form asks, "Type of plumbing system: Copper/Galvanized/Plastic/ Polybutylene./Unknown/ Other") Wisconsin Voluntary disclosure (V) of lead pipes What you are complaining about is the process working. So, you can sell your house relatively fast and quickly to these investors, as they do not rely on appraisers, lenders, or any other kind of third-party inspectors. Since our founding in 1991, we've been completing residential and multi-family building repipes to the highest standard. If they don't agree, though, we are going to have to walk away. Then choose the best offer and quickly close on your home within a couple of weeks, skipping the inconveniences and upfront expenses of a traditional real estate sale. That would confirm your plumbing is polybutylene. Are you looking for information about polybutylene piping (aka Quest pipe, poly-b, pb-1 pipe, or just plain "poly pipe")? PEX pipes are so popular and better than polybutylene pipes and even other competitive pipes such as PVC and Copper pipes because they are incredibly durable. It does not make you 100% uninsurable. Founded by Hubert Miles, Certified Master Inspector. McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of, site-built, mobile/manfuactured and modular homes. The average cost to replumb a house will vary between $5,000 to $7,000. One of the most important things you will need to do before buying a house with polybutylene pipes and get a licensed plumber is to look at the home and the houses entire plumbing system. Even though polybutylene pipes are safe for drinking water, they will fail over time. Of course, only specific insurance companies can answer that question, for your specific circumstances. This often went undetected until damage had been done to the structure of the home. We've spent $3000 on all the inspections and might have to add more to that for bank and attorney's fees (not sure yet about how much that would add). Contact us to have one of our local estimators provide a free consultation and quote, delivered in-home or remotely. The final eligibility deadlines for this class action expired many years ago. Therefore, having knowledge about polybutylene pipes and ensuring that you appropriately deal with them is very important. Well Crap, Polybutylene Pipes in a House I'm Looking at Buying #10628138 10/28/15. Polybutylene pipes would qualify as a material defect. Poly-pipes are well known in the industry for their propensity to fail. How would your realtor know that if it was mistakenly checked on the disclosure. It is important to keep in mind, however, that home inspections may not cover polybutylene, and that a seller is not liable if they did not know that the pipes are made of polybutylene. When you sell directly to an investor, you dont have the. What is the difference between water pipe and sewage (waste) pipe? To learn more about dealing with mold or water damage, you can read our other articles Selling a House with Mold Problems and Selling a Flooded or Water Damaged House. Mold can cause respiratory problems in adults and the development of asthma in children. What is the difference between water pipe and sewage (waste) pipe? Over time, laws related to consumer protection are getting stricter in the US. There are many different water pipes available on the market that you can purchase to replace polybutylene pipes. Once you find the right one, get quotes and discuss all the requirements. 1991 - document.getElementById('copy-current-year').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())). PB piping has not been used for drain and sewer lines, nor vent piping. Our home inspection report just came back and it says the 1990 house has polybutylene pipes. Licensed Florida Independent Insurance Agent. Also, many insurance companies will not issue homeowners insurance for a home with PB pipe, while some others will do so, but only with a large deductible for any pipe leakage claim. This could potentially make you liable for lawsuits from your buyer. As mentioned above, the main problem with polybutylene pipes is that they are too fragile in the long run and become very weak from the inside and subsequently crack. Regarding the first option, the question arises: who would be interested in buying a house with polybutylene pipes? To maximize the value you get from the sale of your property to an investor, consider requesting a cash offer from HouseCashin. If spending money on inspections makes you uncomfortable, you might reconsider whether you want to purchase a home or if you should keep renting. The problem became so widespread and the damages so severe that many insurance companies will refuse to issue a homeowners policy to a home with polybutylene pipes in place, or may write the policy to exclude any damage resulting from failure. a professional plumber will charge between $150 and $500. In conclusion, polybutylene pipes are. "When I work with a seller in a neighborhood that I know has polybutylene, we always have to check before putting the house on the market," Willard adds. Check for a gray plastic pipe under sinks or in exposed areas in the basement or attic. If you're still not sure, call us. If you find a vendor who was previously in the house and alerted them to the fact that the pipes needed to be replaced you have proof. Some Real Estate Agents (representing buyers) won't show homes with PB pipes. In new construction, it was replaced by copper or more dependable forms of plastic pipe, such as CPVC and PEX. Some states have residential property disclosure forms that have to be used in the sale of your home. They should specify what materials will be used, hourly rates, and estimated time to do the work. What is the difference between water service pipe and water supply pipe? However, you cant repair polybutylene pipes because these pipes production ceased quite a long time ago. However, in mid-1966, manufacturers ceased production due to allegations claiming that polybutylene pipe failures caused property damage. Almost all real estate listing agents require the seller to disclose the use of polybutylene pipes in the property. Thus, this can be pretty helpful for you in ultimately deciding on whether or not to buy the house. No, you shouldn't buy a home with polybutylene pipes. Research suggests that polybutylene pipes are prone to becoming brittle and cracking inside out, eventually leading to leakage. They would need to be comfortable with buying a property that may need extensive work to replace the pipes and repair any damage. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. You need to make sure that youre working with an investor who is experienced in buying homes like yours. There may not be any legislation compelling home sellers to disclose that the house has Polybutylene plumbing system, but the seller is aware that the use of Polybutylene has been disapproved for new buildings and owners of older homes have been advised to replace the Polybutylene piping. Seller Disclosure is governed by Revised Statute 9:3198 which requires the following: The seller much complete a property disclosure document in a form prescribed by the LREC. Our expertise shows in every repipe we do and is with you every step of the way. Water supply piping only, not used for drains or vents. We are a national platform connecting homeowners looking to sell their house fast and for cash with real estate investors willing to help them. Found mainly in the southern US. Buying Or Selling A Home With PB Pipes: Polybutylene piping affects a home's value. You are currently on our multi-family site. Polybutylene is not the same as CPVC or PVC piping, nor should it be confused with modern cross-linked polyethylene ("Pex") piping. Others follow long term investing strategies. E & L Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright. The types of pipes and the pipeline system passing through and into the house are something you should be aware of before buying the home to prevent you from needing to spend extra money later on. Polybutylene pipes fall under the category of a material defect, and almost all states make you disclose any information related to a property defect. And again, in 1989. Our Realtor is not being helpful as she doesn't want us to walk away. What is the difference between water service pipe and water supply pipe? Are Polybutylene Water Supply Pipes Bad? If you have the funds to make repairs but need to sell quickly, you will also want to look at an investor sale. Also, if your home is listed in MLS, the local Multiple Listing Service may require square footage disclosure and . What can you do if you buy a home and later discover something was omitted from seller disclosure? Why is it a problem? To keep going forward I'd thought about negotiating back down to there list and put 20k in escrow to cover the replacement. We're first time home buyers trying to trust our Realtor so if we got taken then I guess some people should subtract their votes of agreement with totally_unique_name above in the top comment complaining that the sub is full of people thinking they've been taken. Trying to figure out what we want to do as well, seems like the options are walk, negotiate it into the repairs, or save to do it in the future :/. How can I tell what type of plumbing pipe I have? Learn about them in the next section of this article. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. If you think you may have a problem of this type, talk immediately to your insurance agent. In summary: if you've actually experienced a poly pipe leak - the best option is unquestionably to do a complete, whole-home repipe. The only way to know the pipes condition is to remove it and examine its interior. Polybutylene pipe is a gray plastic tubing that was commonly used as a water-supply plumbing pipe between 1978 and 1995, at which time it was discontinued due to reports of pipes rupturing. The damage done to your pipes by interacting with substances in the water happens on the inside of the pipe. You should compare their offer to your propertys full market value minus your repair costs and closing costs. Does a Seller Have to Disclose Polybutylene Pipes? If the Seller refuses to return your money, you would have to file a lawsuit against the Seller. Most of these forms require the seller to disclose information related to polybutylene pipes. Historically, there has been quite a lot of litigation around polybutylene plumbing. 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