Hello. I've been reading this forum for some time and am hoping to get some advice on my polybutylene plumbing.
I bought a house in Canada that was built in 1992 and has polybutylene plumbing (with copper fittings and crimp rings, not the plastic ones that apparently have more problems). Overall for the house there are 14 cold and 9 hot lines from a manifold in the basement. There are no current issues with the plumbing, but I am doing some extensive remodeling (kitchen, all bathrooms, hardwood) and am wondering if now is the time to switch to PEX, since I will be interacting in some way with all of the supply lines as I remodel the bathrooms and kitchen. It is a four level split and once I do the hardwood upstairs, it will be a lot more difficult to install the new lines, particularly to the ensuite.
I have read a lot on the internet that isn't exactly good for "peace of mind" (don't want to come home one day to water flowing through all levels of the house as it makes its way to the basement drain!), but information specific to Canada states that there isn't a real concern. So...I am wondering if now is the time to bite the bullet and switch everything over to PEX, or do I leave it alone and tie into it. If you recommend option 2 (leave it alone), I'd really appreciate some recommendations on the best fittings to use to tie into the existing poly-b lines, because I will definitely need to do that.
Thanks in advance everyone! Sorry for another poly-b question, but I am really looking for some advice on what to do at this critical point in my reno.
Edit: If you recommend re-plumbing with PEX, can you recommend the best make (for tubing and fittings)? I read that there are different quality levels and some that have more restrictive inner diameters for a given nominal size.
I bought a house in Canada that was built in 1992 and has polybutylene plumbing (with copper fittings and crimp rings, not the plastic ones that apparently have more problems). Overall for the house there are 14 cold and 9 hot lines from a manifold in the basement. There are no current issues with the plumbing, but I am doing some extensive remodeling (kitchen, all bathrooms, hardwood) and am wondering if now is the time to switch to PEX, since I will be interacting in some way with all of the supply lines as I remodel the bathrooms and kitchen. It is a four level split and once I do the hardwood upstairs, it will be a lot more difficult to install the new lines, particularly to the ensuite.
I have read a lot on the internet that isn't exactly good for "peace of mind" (don't want to come home one day to water flowing through all levels of the house as it makes its way to the basement drain!), but information specific to Canada states that there isn't a real concern. So...I am wondering if now is the time to bite the bullet and switch everything over to PEX, or do I leave it alone and tie into it. If you recommend option 2 (leave it alone), I'd really appreciate some recommendations on the best fittings to use to tie into the existing poly-b lines, because I will definitely need to do that.
Thanks in advance everyone! Sorry for another poly-b question, but I am really looking for some advice on what to do at this critical point in my reno.
Edit: If you recommend re-plumbing with PEX, can you recommend the best make (for tubing and fittings)? I read that there are different quality levels and some that have more restrictive inner diameters for a given nominal size.
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