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The Repiping Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Ysabel Mano on . Posted in Bathroom Renovation, burst pipes, Renovations, Repiping.

If your home was built between the 1970s and 1990s, there’s a chance it has Poly-B (polybutylene) piping. Many home insurance providers in Canada no longer cover homes with Poly-B pipes, and some companies may even require proof of pipe replacement before offering a policy.

At John G Plumbing, we specialize in Poly-B pipe replacement to help homeowners protect their property, secure home insurance, and prevent costly water damage. Here’s what you can expect from our five-step repiping process:

Step 1: Mapping Out the Most Cost-Effective Method

Before starting, we assess your home’s plumbing system and discuss the best repiping options. Cost to replace Poly-B piping in BC varies based on home size, pipe material (PEX or copper), and labor. We prioritize a cost-effective approach while ensuring your new plumbing system meets Canadian insurance requirements.

Step 2: Preparing by Cutting Drywall Pieces

We carefully cut drywall in necessary areas to access the old Poly-B pipes, minimizing damage for easy repairs. This step ensures an efficient repiping process without unnecessary demolition.

What insurance companies cover Poly-B pipe replacement?
Some insurance providers in Canada will cover part of the repiping cost. Contact your home insurance provider to discuss potential coverage options.

Step 3: Dry-Fitting the New Pipe System

Before making any permanent changes, we dry-fit the new PEX or copper pipes to ensure proper alignment and efficiency. This step is crucial to avoiding future plumbing problems.
Poly-B plumbing problems

  • Poly-B pipes deteriorate over time, leading to leaks.
  • Insurance companies may refuse coverage for homes with Poly-B piping.
  • Poly-B lawsuits in Canada have highlighted the risks of this outdated material.

Step 4: Turning Off Water & Connecting to Fixtures

Once we’re ready, we turn off the water, remove the old Poly-B pipes, and install the new plumbing system. Our team ensures all connections are secure before testing for leaks. Replacing Poly-B pipes is the best way to lower your home insurance costs and protect your property from expensive water damage

Can you get homeowners insurance with Poly-B piping?
Many insurance companies in Canada will either:

  • Deny coverage outright.
  • Charge higher premiums for homes with Poly-B pipes.
  • Require a full Poly-B replacement before renewing or issuing a policy.

Step 5: Walkthrough to Ensure Customer Satisfaction

Before completing the project, we do a final walkthrough with you to ensure everything meets your expectations. We also provide documentation of the repiping work, which may help you negotiate better home insurance rates.

Why Repiping Matters

Repiping your home prevents costly leaks, improves water quality, and increases plumbing efficiency. If you’re dealing with low water pressure, discolored water, or frequent pipe leaks, it might be time to consider repiping.
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Poly B Piping: Is It Time for a Replacement?

Written by Ysabel Mano on . Posted in Repiping.

What is Poly-B?

Polybutylene or Poly-B is a flexible gray plastic pipe used in residential and commercial construction water supply systems. It was used as an alternative to copper piping from 1978 till 1995. From then, Poly-B pipes filled the water supply pipes of many homes in Canada.

It is non-corrosive and inexpensive to have. However, the use of this pipe was removed from the Canadian Plumbing Codes list of acceptable materials in 2006 because of how the pipe reacts to disinfectants and treatment in the water.

Picture of a pipe

Hence, many homes contain Poly-B pipes so homeowners are considering replacements to avoid potential damage and repairs to their water systems.

Can you get homeowners insurance with polybutylene pipes?

Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not cover damages related to Poly-B failures. As a result, that leaves many homes in Nanaimo and the Oceanside area at risk of a greater value of expenses with repairs, maintenance, and damage.

Being on a ‘catch me if you can’ with lawsuits over the years, insurance policies have changed making the possibility of your house being covered extremely slim. On the other side, some still offer coverage but are charging massive premiums, making it difficult for homeowners to stay within their budget, and some are in debt and a damaged house.

Hence, at John G. Plumbing, we can minimize those expenses and help you replace Poly B piping in your home. Check out more information about Poly-B repiping services at JGP.

What do you do if your house has polybutylene pipes?

If your home still has Poly-B piping done, it is crucial to consider replacing it to avoid potential problems. Poly-B pipes are prone to brittleness, cracking, and eventual failure. This can lead to water leaks, flooding and water supply interruptions due to damage.

If you are ready to replace the Poly B in your home, contact John G. Plumbing, a top Poly-B piping replacement company in Nanaimo. We offer free quotes and estimates for all offered services.

How much does it cost to replace poly B pipes?

There is no one-size-fits-all pricing when it comes to repiping. The cost depends on factors such as the existing plumbing system configuration, the number of fixtures, and whether the home is on a slab or has a crawlspace, to name a few.

At John G. Plumbing, we prioritize cost-effective solutions without sacrificing quality, ensuring your plumbing project is completed efficiently and affordably. Contact John G. Plumbing today for a free estimate.

Our process for repiping at John G. Plumbing

At John G. Plumbing one of our specialties is Poly-B replacement. The process begins at our initial visit with figuring out what is the least invasive and most cost-efficient way to do the repiping.

When we arrive, we prepare the working areas and begin cutting the drywalls. The next step involves dry-fitting the new pipe system to ensure proper alignment. Afterwards, the water is turned off, and the new pipes are connected to fixtures. The final step is a walkthrough to ensure the client is satisfied with the work, ensuring high-quality results from start to finish.

Picture piping process

Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Ensure your home is safe by replacing your Poly B pipes today. Contact John G. Plumbing now for a fast, reliable solution and protect your property from potential damage.

 

Plumber under a sink

What Homeowners Should Know About Repiping A House

Written by Mark on . Posted in General Plumbing, Repiping. No Comments on What Homeowners Should Know About Repiping A House

The thought of repiping your home can seem like a daunting task, but there are many benefits to getting this done ahead of potential problems.

In this article, we outline reasons why you may want to consider repiping, how to tell if your pipes are in urgent need of repair, and what the process is like for our professional plumbers at John G. Plumbing to repipe your property.

Is it worth it to repipe a house?

Absolutely! Some older homes contain pipes that have become fragile over time. A burst pipe is a preventable issue in most circumstances. If you do not fix pipe problems, they can cause severe damage over time.

Some potential problems may include:

  • Black mould, potential health issues
  • Structural damage (burst pipes, water damage)
  • Increased insurance costs for outdated materials
  • Reduced property value

The long-term solution is repiping, which is a complete replacement of the water supply system.

Benefits of Replacing Old Plumbing

Aside from preventing problems, there are some immediate advantages to upgrading your pipes. If you have old galvanized, lead, Kitec, or poly-b pipes, you’ll want to upgrade to PEX as soon as it is financially feasible.

Re-Piping Advantages

Improved Water Pressure

You will notice an increase in water pressure when filling bathtubs and sinks. Your toilet will fill faster and your shower pressure will be much stronger.

Increased Hot Water

Repiping usually increases the flow into your hot water tank, allowing it to heat the water much faster.

Cleaner Water

This is especially true if you have aged lead pipes. Over time, some of the material can deteriorate and contaminate your drinking water. New pipes do not have this problem.

Lower Maintenance

A repiped plumbing system should be relatively maintenance-free for years, saving you money on consistent repairs. This is due to newer materials, a more efficient setup, and better rates on your home insurance.

Peace of mind – Increase your property value!

A typical home-buyer does not want the handyman special. Usually, buyers will only agree to renovations if it is something aesthetically pleasing they can benefit from. Pipes hidden behind the walls are important, but they’d rather spend their money elsewhere. If you do this job ahead of selling your home, it can be a major selling point.

What are the signs of a plumbing leak?

Be aware of the following warning signs if you think your pipes are leaking – you might need repiping:

  • Low water pressure or low flow
  • Higher water bill
  • Damp walls, floors or ceiling
  • The water meter runs when the water is off
  • Discolored water
  • Water stains on tub or sink
  • Smelly water or musty smell
  • Greenish colour surface on pipes (green spots on the pipes)

What causes pipe problems?

Slab Leaks

Slab leaks refer to water leaking through your foundation. In BC, this can be caused by minor earthquakes, an inadequate installation job, soil shifting, or reactions between old pipe materials and the surrounding chemicals in the soil. As expected, older homes tend to see more slab leaks than newer builds.

Acidic Water or High Water Flow

Acidic water can produce a corrosive effect on copper piping and slowly cause pipes to fail. This can impact the entire plumbing system with pinhole leaks, which are difficult to detect with the naked eye. Additionally, high water flow can slowly erode the interior of your pipes from the constant friction. This also makes them less durable over time.

Undersized water system

Are your pipes too small? If they are, it can cause major issues. Too much pressure can cause weakened pipes to burst. Small pipes can also lead to decreased water pressure, so it is important to ensure your pipes are the correct size for your household.

Change to PEX piping: what are the benefits of PEX

PEX pipes are very durable and flexible. They are the industry standard for repiping homes because they offer numerous benefits at an affordable price. Copper is another option, but PEX has several advantages over copper that can’t be ignored.

PEX pipes benefits:

  • resistant to extreme high and low temperatures
  • does not transfer heat as quickly as copper which conserves energy
  • resists scale build-up (common with copper pipes), and does not pit or corrode when exposed to acidic water
  • more resistant to breakage caused by freezing than copper pipe
  • less chance of leaks and very efficient
  • water flows more quietly
  • provides fast-flowing water and can reduce your utility bills due to its efficiency
  • environmentally friendly
  • more cost-effective than copper pipe
  • safer to install because a torch is not needed to secure connections
  • more affordable than plumbing with copper because the material is more cost-effective
  • Requires less effort from plumbers to install a new plumbing system using PEX pipes (saves on labour costs)

“My drainage pipe was leaking into the two foot crawl space. John gave me options as how to repair it. He set aside time in his busy schedule to complete the job in one day. It was a difficult dirty endeavor. John did a fine job. I would use his plumbing services again. Thanks!”
(Client Review)

The Repiping Process With PEX Line Plumbing

In a nutshell, this is the process for repiping with our plumbers at John G. Plumbing.

  1. Onsite Visit
  2. Repiping Estimate
  3. Preplanning and Installation Plan
  4. Repiping Preparation
  5. Repiping
  6. Water System Testing and Inspection

Our plumbers are thoroughly trained, friendly, and take pride in their work. If you have any plumbing concerns in your home, please contact us for a free estimate. In addition to repiping, we help clients by repairing kitchen and bathroom pipes, installing new fixtures like toilets and dishwashers, and having a certified gas fitter on hand for gas line installations and tankless water heater hookups. Give us a call to get started!