Question 1

What is poly B (polybutylene) pipe and why does it need replacing?

Accepted Answer

Poly B is a grey flexible plastic pipe installed in most Metro Vancouver homes built between 1978 and 1995. The core problem is chemical degradation: chlorine and oxidants in the municipal water supply attack the pipe from the inside, making the material brittle over time. Failures happen at the fittings first — often suddenly and without any advance warning. A burst poly B fitting can discharge a large volume of water before anyone notices. The defect was serious enough to trigger a $950 million class action settlement in the US (Cox v. Shell Oil Co., 1995). BC insurers responded by tightening coverage requirements, and most now require poly B removal before they'll underwrite water damage.

Question 2

What is the life expectancy of poly B pipe?

Accepted Answer

Poly B was originally rated for 50+ years, but real-world performance in Metro Vancouver is far shorter — most poly B piping has a practical safe service life of 10 to 25 years. Homes with original poly B from the 1978–1995 installation window are now 30 to 50 years old, meaning most of that pipe is well past any reasonable service life. The risk is highest at the fittings — especially the original grey plastic acetal fittings — which tend to crack before the pipe body itself. There's no reliable way to extend poly B's lifespan; replacement is the only permanent solution.

Question 3

What is the poly B failure rate?

Accepted Answer

Failure rates are high enough that courts, building codes, and insurers all treat poly B as a known defective product. Research tied to the 1995 Cox v. Shell class action estimated that 85 to 90 percent of poly B installations would eventually fail. In Metro Vancouver specifically, elevated chlorine levels in the municipal water supply accelerate degradation faster than in many other regions. The highest-risk points are the acetal plastic fittings, which can crack even when the visible pipe body looks intact — meaning a visual inspection alone won't catch every failure point.

Question 4

Why is poly B plumbing bad?

Accepted Answer

Three core reasons. First, chemical degradation: chlorine in the water supply oxidizes the pipe material and fittings from the inside out, causing brittleness that worsens every year. Second, failure without warning: unlike a corroding copper pipe that tends to show slow pinhole leaks, poly B typically cracks suddenly at a fitting and releases water rapidly before anyone notices. Third, it's a documented defective product: poly B was removed from the National Plumbing Code of Canada in 1995 after widespread failures, and the $950 million US class action settlement confirmed the manufacturer was aware of the defect. BC's chlorinated water supply makes it particularly aggressive on poly B compared to other parts of Canada.

Question 5

When was poly B banned in Canada and BC?

Accepted Answer

Poly B was never banned outright by legislation — it was removed from the approved materials list in the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC) in 1995. Once removed from the NPC, poly B could no longer be installed in new construction anywhere in Canada, including BC. Production of poly B pipe in North America stopped the same year. The phase-out followed years of reported failures and the $950 million Cox v. Shell Oil class action settlement in the US. Any home built after 1995 should not have poly B — if it does, the pipe was either installed without a permit or there's a misidentification.

Question 6

Can you insure a house with poly B in BC?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it's getting harder and more expensive every year. The most common scenarios in BC right now: many insurers will renew or issue a policy but add a poly B surcharge, typically ranging from $500 to $2,000 or more per year; some require a written plumbing inspection report confirming the condition of the pipe; and a growing number of BC insurers will no longer offer coverage at all to homes with poly B, or will exclude any water damage claim where a poly B pipe was the source. The issue also comes up in home sales — a buyer's new insurer frequently refuses to underwrite a home with poly B, which can kill a deal. Replacing poly B removes the risk entirely and in most cases eliminates the surcharge immediately.

Question 7

How do I know if my home has poly B piping?

Accepted Answer

Poly B is a grey or dull cream-coloured flexible plastic pipe, usually stamped 'ASTM D3309' or 'PB' along its length. Check under kitchen and bathroom sinks, behind toilets, in the mechanical room, and in the crawlspace or basement. The fittings are either grey plastic (acetal) or silver aluminum compression rings — both are telltale signs. If your home was built between 1978 and 1995, there's a high probability poly B is still in your walls. If you're not certain, call us — our plumbers will identify your plumbing type on the spot at no charge.

Question 8

Does my insurance require poly B replacement?

Accepted Answer

Most major BC home insurers now treat poly B as a significant risk factor. The most common responses: requiring poly B removal before renewing or issuing a new policy; applying an annual surcharge while poly B remains; or excluding water damage claims where poly B was the source of the failure. Check your policy's exclusions section and ask your broker directly whether poly B affects your coverage or premium. We provide written inspection and post-replacement completion reports in a format most BC insurers accept.

Question 9

What pipe do you replace poly B with?

Accepted Answer

We replace poly B with either PEX-A or copper — your choice, and we'll walk you through both. PEX-A is the more common choice today: it's flexible, freeze-resistant, easier to route through walls, and carries a 25-year manufacturer warranty. Copper is the traditional option — fully accepted by all insurers and lenders, extremely durable, and adds perceived value at resale. For most Metro Vancouver homes, PEX-A is the practical choice; copper tends to make sense for specific situations or homeowner preference. We don't push one over the other — it depends on your home and your priorities.

Question 10

How long does poly B pipe replacement take?

Accepted Answer

Most single-family home repipes take one to two days of active work. Add a day or two for permit processing before we start and the city inspection after we finish. Condos and larger homes typically take two to three days depending on the number of suites or the pipe count. We schedule everything — permits, inspection, patching — so you're not left managing the process. Water is off during working hours and back on each evening.

Question 11

Do you pull permits for poly B replacement?

Accepted Answer

Yes, every time — no exceptions. All our repipe work is pulled on permit with the City and passes a final inspection before we close up the walls. This matters for three reasons: your insurer needs the documentation, your strata (if applicable) requires it, and any future buyer's real estate lawyer or home inspector will ask for it. Unpermitted plumbing work creates problems at resale and can void insurance claims. We handle all the paperwork.

Question 12

How much does poly B replacement cost in Vancouver?

Accepted Answer

Cost depends on your home's size, number of floors, accessibility of the piping, and whether you choose PEX-A or copper. A typical single-family home in Metro Vancouver runs in the range of $8,000 to $20,000 for a full repipe — though smaller homes or targeted replacements can be less. We don't quote without seeing the home, because every job is different. Call us for a free walkthrough and written quote — no obligation, no pressure.

Question 13

Do you work in condos and stratas?

Accepted Answer

Yes — condo and strata repipes are a significant part of our work. We handle the full process: preparing the strata documentation package, coordinating with the property manager and strata council, working within approved access hours, minimizing disruption to neighbouring suites, and providing the completion report the strata needs for its records. We've done this enough times to know what strata councils want and how to keep the process smooth.

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What is poly B piping — and why does it need replacing?

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