Leaking pipes

Q: The old plastic plumbing pipes in my house are springing leaks and I don’t have the money to redo the whole plumbing system. What should I do?

A: Polybutylene pipe systems first became available here in the 1970s, and failure of these first-generation polybutylene pipes and fittings is common.

Talk to your insurance company when a leak occurs. Your house insurance will usually cover the cost of fixing any water damage, and perhaps the cost of fixing the immediate leak. It’s unlikely to extend to covering replacement of the entire system, however – and cover for damage from future leaks may be declined after more than one claim.

If you can’t afford to replace the whole system, it’s wise to replace everything that can be reached easily (eg, in the roof or sub-floor space). Replacement of pipework behind walls could perhaps wait until a room is due for redecoration.

When replacing the failed pipes, there are plenty of options you can discuss with your Master Plumber. Copper and polybutylene (the second generation) are most commonly used in homes, with cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) and multilayer pipes (PE-AI-PE or PEX-AI-PEX) also growing in use. Polypropylene pipe and fittings are increasingly used where rigid pipe is appropriate. You can check the markings on the pipe to see what the material is and to what standard it has been manufactured. If there’s no information, stay clear!
 
Plastic pipes can also fail if used at temperatures and/or pressures higher than they were designed for. Some instances of pipe failure have been attributed to changes in pressures in the town water supply system. Get your Master Plumber to install a pressure limiting valve on the main supply to the house to minimise the effect of these pressure changes.