Do I Have a Polybutylene Water Line? 3 Ways to Determine If You Have Polybutylene Plumbing

Polybutylene, also known as blue pipe or poly pipe, is a material used to connect houses to the county water line. Unfortunately, polybutylene is known to leak and burst without any warning. Here are 3 clues to help you determine if you have a polybutylene water line.

1. You Have Blue Pipes and/or Grey Fittings

Check the plumbing in your house for a blue pipe and grey fitting. Look at where the water line enters your house through the basement wall or floor and where the pipe attaches to your home’s main water shutoff valve or water meter.

2. Your House Was Built Between the Late 1970s & the Mid-1990s

Due to the ease of installation and its low cost, polybutylene piping was used in the construction of millions of homes throughout the United States from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s.

3. Your Neighbors Have Polybutylene Pipes

Typically, builders used the same type of plumbing materials in all the houses they were developing in one area. Ask your neighbors if they know they have polybutylene. If your neighbors have it, you likely have polybutylene as well unless it was replaced by a previous owner.

Replacing Your Polybutylene Pipes Before Water Line Failure

The only way to eliminate issues that can come from deteriorating polybutylene piping is to replace the water line. The Joseph Heil Company perfected a technique called the Pullzit, where we can pull a new water line under your lawn without destroying your trees and driveway.

Interactive Heil Plumbing & HVAC Polybutylene Pipes Map

Listed are known residential sites in Howard County, MD where polybutylene was originally installed.

The Heil Difference

We’re dedicated to offering the highest quality residential and commercial plumbing services for every customer. Our plumbers are available to respond to your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our residential and commercial plumbers in Columbia and Ellicott City cover every need, from simple fixture repairs to complex drain and sewer problems.

While we are based in Jessup, Maryland, our plumbing contractors also service Catonsville, Columbia, Ellicott City, Odenton, Clarksville, Elkridge, Fulton, Laurel, and Severn.

Contact Heil Plumbing & HVAC to schedule an appointment with a trustworthy plumber in Jessup or the surrounding area.  Live closer to D.C.?  Trust our Rockville plumbers to do quality work you can rely on.