Should I Update My Plumbing System?

1/30/2020 (Permalink)

Building plumbing system in Oak Tree Village, TX

Should I Update My Plumbing System?

If your Oak Tree Village, TX, commercial property was built or repiped sometime between 1978 and 1996, there’s a good chance that it has polybutylene pipes. What once was hailed as a great new plumbing technology eventually turned into a bunch of burst pipes and flooded properties. Then, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was introduced. So, which is the best decision, keeping the old pipe system and risking a disaster or paying to repipe the building with PVC? The old pipes:

1. Degrade

What they didn’t realize about the material of this type of pipe is that it degrades over time. Water treatment chemicals, such as chlorine, can break down the material making it brittle. Over time, mini-fractures will form in the pipe, eventually causing it to rupture under the water’s force. Unfortunately, there’s no way to detect a problem with the pipe since the deterioration starts from within the pipe.

2. Affect the Water

Brittle, degrading pipes can affect the quality of the water. Chemicals can leach into the water.

3. Aren’t Repairable

There’s no way to repair a damaged polybutylene pipe since it degrades from the inside out. Replacement is your only option to protect your building.

4. Aren't Up to Code

Building codes in the United States and Canada no longer recognize these pipes. If you want your building to be up to code, you’ll have to get your building repiped with PVC.

5. Won’t Be Covered by Insurance

More than likely your insurance won’t cover your building if it has these old pipes. At the very least your insurance premiums may be a lot higher than they would be with newer pipes.

6. Lower the Building’s Value

No one is going to want to buy a building that’s not up to code. If they do, it’s going to probably be for a lot less than your building is worth. Getting your building up to code will make it much more appealing to potential buyers when it’s time to sell.
Getting new plumbing for your building could get expensive. If your building sustains water damage due to degraded polybutylene pipes, restoration professionals can return it to its preloss condition.