Do You Have This Certain Type of Pipe? You May Be in for Unnecessary Sewer Cleanup

2/23/2021 (Permalink)

Do you have polybutylene pipes?

If the pipes in your commercial building were manufactured between 1978 and 1995, you may be in for some imminent sewer cleanup. Polybutylene pipes were used during that time period in place of copper pipes. They were less costly and easier to install. What's not to love? Well, there's a reason manufacture stopped in 1995. However, PB pipes are still commonly found in sewer systems that may lead right into your place of business.

Do You Have Polybutylene Pipes?

There are a few problems with this particular type of pipe:

• They are chemically reactive, breaking down when exposed to common cleaning agents.
• PB pipes can become brittle and crack over time.
• This can lead to leaks, backing up the sewers.
• These pipes are sometimes uninsurable.

To determine if you have PB pipes, you need to do a little digging. Leave the physical excavating to the experts, but if you can find a pipe coming out of the ground near your building's water heater, sink, or toilet, you can check for classic signs of a PB pipe. It will most likely be blue, black, or gray and one-half to 1 inch in diameter. These are good indicators that you have PB pipes in your sewer system.
However, there may be visible copper pipes and poly pipes hiding underground, closer to the water meter. If you don't want to go full-on detective mode on your pipes, it's OK to contact a sewer expert. Especially if there are any signs of sewer backup, such as a flooded toilet, it's advised to contact these professionals as soon as possible.

How Can You Prepare for Sewer Cleanup?
Preventing water damage from sewer backup issues starts with finding the right insurance coverage. It's harder, but not impossible, to cover PB pipes. Once you find adequate coverage, you will need to find trusted, insurance-preferred remediation experts in Portage Des Sioux, MO, to have on deck if and when disaster strikes. Even if you have this type of pipe, having a restoration plan makes for easier, cheaper sewer cleanup.