Repiping & Polybutylene Pipe Replacement In Boca Raton
If you Boca Raton was built between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, there is a chance an outdated plumbing system could be hiding between your walls. Many homes constructed during this period were build with polybutylene (PB) pipes, a material that was once promoted as an affordable and innovative alternative to copper. While these pipes were widely used throughout South Florida, decades of use have revealed a serious problem: polybutylene pipes are prone to deterioration and can fail without warning.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait for a pipe failure to take action. At Hardenburgh Plumbing, we help Boca Raton homeowners identify aging polybutylene plumbing systems and understand their replacement options before problems arise. Our experienced team can evaluate your plumbing, explain the condition of your pipes, and guide you through the replacement process from start to finish.
Why Polybutylene Pipes Need to be Replaced?
Polybutylene pipes are such a scourge because the pipe shows no exterior signs of a problem. The entire problem is actually happening inside the pipe and when the failure occurs, it is sudden and catastrophic. Due to this sudden nature of failure, the PB problem is a potential ticking time-bomb in your home.
How Chlorinated Water Causes Polybutylene Pipe Failure
As is the case in many urban areas, municipal water is sanitized for human consumption by the addition of chlorine to the water supply. As the chlorinated water flows through the polybutylene pipes, the chlorine reacts chemically with the polybutylene plastic. This reaction causes the plastic to break down, become brittle, and eventually flake, causing microfractures.
Why Insurance Companies Are Concerned About Polybutylene Plumbing
Because the failure rate of these pipes is 100% guaranteed over time, most major Florida homeowners insurers will take one of the following courses of action:
- Refuse to insure a home with active polybutylene plumbing
- Hike the premiums exorbitantly
- Completely exclude water damage coverage
It’s a bad idea to be aware of polybutylene plumbing in your home and not take steps towards replacing it both for your family’s safety and security, as well as your budget.
Replacement Materials
To ensure that your polybutylene pipe replacement job is legally compliant and up to code, your polybutylene pipes will be replaced either with highly durable PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) piping or copper. PEX piping is what polybutylene piping aspired to be. PEX is also highly flexible and cost effective but crucially, is chemically resistant to most forms of corrosion by acids, alkalines, and salts. Copper is a costlier alternative and less flexible, however it is also resistant to corrosion. Some homeowners may still want copper pipes for aesthetic and hygiene reasons (Copper has strong anti-microbial properties).
Where Polybutylene Pipes Are Commonly Found in Boca Raton
As mentioned, for the period between the late 1970s all the way up until the mid-1990s, the westward expansion of Boca Raton was happening. This can best be visualized on a map as the expansion of the city relative to Interstate 95. All the way from the Boca Raton beach area and extending up towards Delray Beach, you will find that homes built or remodeled during that era could contain polybutylene piping.
Do Homes East of I-95 Have Polybutylene Pipes?
While the areas east of I-95 are primarily some of the more historical, mid-century homes in Boca Raton, they are not commonly known to have polybutylene piping but if they were remodeled during that era then the likelihood of them having the pipes increases. You would have to check your planning history and see what work was done and consider a polybutylene pipe inspection if there was any remodeling done in that time-frame.
Why Homes West of I-95 Are More Likely to Have Polybutylene Plumbing
The neighborhoods lying west of I-95 were all part of the massive boom and westward expansion of Boca Raton. As many master-planned communities, townhome complexes and single-family estates were developed between 1980 and 1995, these developments represent the most likely candidates for the inclusion of PB piping. Whether you are in a golf course community west of the highway or even a bit closer to the turnpike in an established neighborhood, you could have a PB problem.
Boca Raton Polybutylene Pipe Replacement Permits and Approvals
Embarking on a complete home polybutylene pipe replacement in Boca Raton is a major structural modification and you will have to clear two main hurdles depending on your situation:
- Local municipal permits
- Homeowners Association (HOA) regulations and approval
City of Boca Raton Permit Requirements
The City of Boca Raton Building Department strictly regulates all plumbing overhauls and spells out a very specific process in dealing with the administrative part of the project.
It’s mandatory for the plumber to obtain a building permit before any walls are opened or pipes have been swapped. By doing this, you’ll ensure that the work is compliant with the Florida Building Code.
Homeowners cannot pull an “owner-builder” permit for a complex repipe themselves. This is mainly due to the homeowner needing to occupy the property during the repipe and perform the physical labor themselves, which is both dangerous to their health and highly discouraged because of liability reasons. You will need to enlist the services of a reputable plumbing contractor who must be registered with both the State of Florida as well as Palm Beach County to pull the permit on your behalf.
There are two inspections that must be completed before the job can be signed off by the city, namely a rough-in inspection followed by a final inspection. There could be more inspections dependent on the outcome of each inspection should any remediation be required. If you have decided on an experienced, reputable plumber with excellent references, you should not expect more than 2 inspections. The rough-in inspection is performed after the pipe replacement has been done but before the drywall has been patched up. This allows inspectors to see the actual pipe replacement work in situ. After the drywall has been patched, a final inspection commences to approve proper functionality once the system is fully operational.
City Permit Application Process
The application process for a city permit to commence a polybutylene pipe replacement has a few important steps that you should be aware of in order to keep the process as smooth as possible:
- Once you have signed a contract with your chosen plumbing contractor a Notice of Commencement must be signed at the local courthouse between you and the contractor.
- The homeowner must provide proof of residency by bringing along their driver’s license as well as recent mail (such as a utility bill), and these items will then be notarized on the document.
- After the Notice of Commencement is secured, the plumbing contractor needs to then submit isometric drawings and a site plan alongside the building permit for the city plans reviewer to approve.
What to Expect During a Polybutylene Pipe Replacement
Once all the legal processes have been completed, the installation can then proceed. The process usually unfolds like this:
- The work begins by cutting into the drywall usually inside or behind the bathrooms in order to access the existing plumbing.
- The new lines are then routed through the attic and secured with clamps every 3 feet.
Managing Your Repipe Project Timeline
A reputable plumbing contractor will usually work closely with a qualified dry-waller. This greatly increases the chances for a successful project as there is a time limit for the permits obtained. We have noticed in the past that sometimes a family member or friend of the homeowner is a dry-waller and they promise to make a turn later but this seldom, if ever, works out for the timing of the permits and the inspections.
HOA and Community Requirements for Polybutylene Pipe Replacement
Since so many of the residential areas lying west of the I-95 reside within gated communities or managed subdivisions one of the major hurdles can be the HOAs and, depending on the aesthetic disturbance, an Architectural Review Board (ARB). An ARB will need to be consulted if:
- Project involves outdoor staging
- There are specific hours designated for construction noise
- A change to where the water main enters the exterior structure is required
Sometimes in a townhome or condo complex, there are shared water lines and there may be HOA guidelines that specify mandatory shut-off valves and licensed contractor insurance minimums to protect neighboring units.
Why Choose Hardenburgh Plumbing for Polybutylene Pipe Replacement in Boca Raton
Since 1989, Hardenburgh Plumbing has been helping Boca Raton homeowners protect their properties with reliable plumbing solutions and honest, professional service. Over the years, we have completed countless polybutylene pipe replacement projects throughout Palm Beach County, giving us extensive experience with the unique challenges these aging plumbing systems present.
Don’t wait for a leak, contact Hardenburgh Plumbing today to schedule a polybutylene pipe inspection in Boca Raton. Our experienced team will evaluate your plumbing system, explain your options, and help you take proactive steps to protect your home.
Call 561-968-0000 to schedule your inspection.
