Polybutylene Plubling (QEST) - Late 1996

[slinkeey]

My mother in law moved into a mobile home last year after a divorce.
I noticed that she has Polybutylene plumbing with the copper connectors/fittings
All I read on the internet is horror stories about this stuff.. I really don't want to scare her, but I don't also don't want any problems. She has well water so chlorine should not be a problem. There is a theory that chlorine is what breaks down these pipes.

Any suggestions? The one thing that I would like to do is put a shut off valve inside a closet so that if she did have a problem she could actually be able to shut it down without trying to crawl underneath the trailer and reach down into a croc where the supply line comes from.

The weird thing is I thought polybutylene was pretty much put out of production in 1995. Her pipes are dated 1996 and it is a 1996 model trailer.

Does anyone here have experience with polybutylene?

[pumatrac]

All I can tell you is my neighbor has flooded their home 3 times in the last 3 years. All on the hot water side. They finally had the home replumbed this year after the last flooding. I wouldn't think a mobile home would be that hard, or expensive to redo before she had any problems. JMO.

[slinkeey]

That is kind of what I was thinking.

I would have thought that the last owner would have to disclose that considering Polybutylene has had some major problems historically. Then again, it is a mobile home so discosures are probably not required.

[Jig A Low]

been doing residential plumbing since the mid 80's and it's not the pipe that is the issue, it's the fittings and the crimp rings.

the original QUEST that everyone is having issues with used plastic fittings that were "crimped" in place with copper rings. most of the issues were from the crimping tools not being properly cared for, the joints in the tool would wear over time which resulted in a "looser" crimp than was needed, the other end was when plumbers determined that he was getting loose crimps and adjust the tool tighter, this would cause small cracks in the plastic fittings that would eventually come appart.

the newer stuff uses brass fittings with stainless steel crimp rings, there have been alot fewer problems with the new stuff.

[Jim285pro]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Jig A Low &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">been doing residential plumbing since the mid 80's and it's not the pipe that is the issue, it's the fittings and the crimp rings.

the original QUEST that everyone is having issues with used plastic fittings that were "crimped" in place with copper rings. most of the issues were from the crimping tools not being properly cared for, the joints in the tool would wear over time which resulted in a "looser" crimp than was needed, the other end was when plumbers determined that he was getting loose crimps and adjust the tool tighter, this would cause small cracks in the plastic fittings that would eventually come appart.

the newer stuff uses brass fittings with stainless steel crimp rings, there have been alot fewer problems with the new stuff.</td></tr></table>
Correct. Its the fittings that was the major concern. If it has the copper fittings she is prob ok

[slinkeey]

Thanks..... That is what i gathered online.

Even copper plumbing can have problems.. I had a friend get pinholes in his copper pipes...

[Jig A Low]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by slinkeey &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Thanks..... That is what i gathered online.

Even copper plumbing can have problems.. I had a friend get pinholes in his copper pipes... </td></tr></table>

tell him to make sure the water lines are grounded, without it the minerals in the water can react with the copper and corrode it from the inside out.