UrbanPipingLtd.isaleadingpolybutylenefittingandpolybreplacement companyinEdmonton,AB.Wearelicensed,bonded,andinsuredpolyb fittingsplumbers.Weinstallnewpolybutylenefittingsandalsoreplace polybutylenefornewhousefittingsandoldhousefittings.Wearealso availableinthreeothercitiesofCalgary,Vancouver,andKelowna.
Polybutyleneisatypeofplasticthatwasused inthe1980sand1990sintheconstructionof waterpipes.Itwascheaperthanother commonlyusedmaterialssuchascopper,lead, andiron,sobuildersusedittoreducecosts.It wasalsosupposedtobecorrosion-resistant andsuitableforuseinexposedconditions. However,itsoonbecameclearthat polybutyleneisnotsuitableforoutdooruseand thatitdoesnotlastverylong.Itwasalsoproven thatitdoesnotresistcorrosionaswellas expected.
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Thepolybutylenepipelawsuitbecame thebiggestclassactionlawsuitin Americaduetothenegligenceofthe manufacturersofthesepipes.They failedtomeetthenecessaryindustry standardsandspecificationsandare nowresponsibleforthecostlyand inconvenientrepairprocess.The lawyerswhorepresentedhomeowners inthepolybutylenepipelawsuitwere successfulinprovingthatthe manufacturersfailedtomeetthe industrystandardsandspecifications.
Thepolybutylenepipelawsuitwasthebiggestclassaction lawsuitever.
Atotalof2.7millionhomeswereaffectedbythefaulty piping.
Theaveragepayoutforthepolybutylenepipelawsuitwas $1,200.
Thedefectivepipingcancausefloodingandirreparable damagetoyourhome.
Thepolybutylenepipeisnotsuitableforoutdooruse.
Ifyoususpectthatyourhomehaspolybutylenepipes,you shouldgetaprofessionalinspection.
Ifyouownahomewithpolybutylenepipes,youareeligible forcashsettlementorreplacementofyourpipes.
Ifyouhaveahomewithpolybutylenepipes,makesureto havetheminspectedeveryyear.
Youcanalsohireaplumbertohaveyourpipeschecked.
Youshouldalsohaveyourpipingreplacedifitismorethan 20yearsold.
Youcaneasilyfindoutifyourhomehaspolybutylenepipesbyhiringaprofessional inspector.Youcanalsotrysomeofthesewaystoidentifyifyourhomehasthese defectivepipes:
Lookforabluestain–Ifyounoticethatyourwaterlineshaveabluestain,there isahighprobabilitythatyourpipesaremadeofpolybutylene.Thisisamajor indicatorthatyourhousehasthistypeofpipes.
Lookforasilverband–Ifyourpipeshaveasilverband,theyaremadeof polybutylene.However,thisisnota100%guaranteethatyourhousehasthese pipes.
Checkyourwaterbill–Ifyourwaterbillisunusuallyhigh,itcouldbebecause thewaterisescapingthroughyourdamagedpipes.
Noticeanyunusualodors–Anothersignthatyourhousehaspolybutylene pipesistheunusualodors.
Itmanagedtoreducethenumberof housesbuiltwithpolybutylenepipes. Itmotivatedhomeownersand contractorstobemorecarefulwith theirselectionofbuildingmaterials. Itencouragedhomeownerstomonitor theirpipesmoreregularly.
Itforcedhomeownerstoschedulea regularinspectionandreplacementof theirpipes.
Thelawsuitonlyfocusedonthe homeowners.
Anotherproblemassociatedwiththis lawsuitisthathomeownerswere encouragednottorepairtheirpipes.
Ifyouliveinahousewithpolybutylenepipes, youshouldhaveyourpipesinspectedevery year.
Ifyouneedanyinstallationrepairorpolyb replacementofPolybutylenepipesinyour houseorcommercialproperty,please contactthepolybutylenepipereplacement expertsatUrbanPiping.
Thepolybutylenepipelawsuitwasthe mostsignificantlegalactionduringthe 1980sand1990srealestateboom.Even thoughitmanagedtobringjusticeto homeowners,italsomanagedtoreduce thenumberofhousesbuiltwith polybutylenepipes.Ifyouownahomewith polybutylenepipes,youshouldhavethem inspectedregularly.
