“Gray pipe” which is properly known as Polybutylene pipes, is not repairable and should be replaced. This particular pipe was outlawed because it was determined that chlorine inside the water supply caused the pipe to become brittle and leak. If you have this pipe inside your home and it is for sale, you must notify your realtor and they must notify the potential buyer. It is recommended that you replace the pipe prior to marketing the home for sale to avoid delays.
Homes built up until the early 2000’s MAY have gray pipe in it. Many mobile, modular, and otherwise manufactured homes had this installed when the home was built. There are also some concrete block homes that were plumbed with this pipe.
The average lifespan of polybutylene pipe is about 10 years. The pipe, and their fittings are prone to breaking or leaking, which causes extensive water damage. A mobile, modular, or manufactured home is likely to suffer extreme damage because the pipe is in between the subfloor and the vapor barrier. This means that if the pipe leaks, you won’t know about it until you have a reason to be under the home, see an increase in your water bill or fall through the floor.
In Florida, you may replace the pipes yourself, but you have to pull a permit, bring the plumbing to current code and have the work inspected by a city or county official in order to maintain your homeowner’s insurance.
If you are not doing the work yourself, you must hire a state certified plumber to complete the work and process the permits. A handyman is not allowed to complete this project for you.
Permits for a stand-alone repipe are usually approved very quickly. In Polk County, once the permit is in effect, the contractor has 6 months to complete the project and have the home inspected. Your insurance company will not usually cancel your insurance if you have a pipe replacement on schedule. However, they may not cover damage from a leak during this waiting period, so check in with them as soon as you have hired your contractor and have an installation date pending.
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There are many reasons for a water heater to fail. At times, you may be able to repair the heater, but other times you will have no choice except to replace it. Some of the reasons to replace your water heater are:
