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Polybutylene

Alison
Alison Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
I just bought a 12 year old home with polybutylene tubing and was wondering if anyone has a track record on this material? How long does it last? The system does not have a heat exchanger as of yet, I am contemplating updating the whole system but I dont want to do that until I get more info on the tubing. What do you guys think? Thanks.

Comments

  • kevin
    kevin Member Posts: 420
    poly...

    is it being used for heating or is it just for the potable/drinking water?
    I had installed a lot of this stuff(including my own home) w/o any problems as drinking water piping. I only used it with copper/brass fittings and copper crimp rings(that ts the key) Plastic fittings and aluminum crimp rings were the problems.
    I did one retro fit as a radiant floor set up where someone else had installed non-barrier polybute and I did install a HX and make sure that all part were non steel/iron bearing on the poly side. No problems to speak of in its 3rd year.
    It would be a good idea to get a few opinions on your system preferably from contractors who have worked w/ PB to eval. your whole system and all yourneeds. kpc
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,785
    It is O2

    permeable. Excessive O2 will cause ferrous component failure. In worse cases this will plug the tube. I'd keep a close eye on the quality of the fluid to handle corr osion issues before they get out of hand.

    In domestic water systems the acetal fittings and aluminum rings started the downfall. High chlorine content may have been the blame for potable water side failures. depends on who you ask :)

    Last I heard PB was still being extruded in the US for special applications. I think some carwash snowmelt packagers still use PB. I saw it in carwash a spec two years ago here in Missouri. I believe lots of PB is still used in the UK, although it may be layered of O2 barriered.

    hot rod
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Aidan (UK)
    Aidan (UK) Member Posts: 290
    True

    Polybutylene is still sold in the UK as Hepworth's Hep2O pipe and fittings, amongst others. It is sold with a 50 year guarantee, subject to temperature and pressure limitations. See
    http://www.hep2o.co.uk/v2Oapproval1.cfm

    Lots of other information about the material on the hep2o.co.uk site.

    I'm not aware of any great disadvantages, compared to PEX, but maybe someone else will enlighten me. I also don't know how the US spec differs from the Euro specs, but the information on the material should be applicable. I think barrier tube is available.
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