Polybutylene Pipe Replacement in Denver, CO
Polybutylene was installed in homes from roughly 1978 through 1995. It is gray, flexible plastic pipe, usually with plastic or copper crimp fittings. It fails without warning, often at the fittings, and insurers frequently will not cover a home that still has it.
- Common in Denver-area homes built 1978 to 1995
- Replaced with PEX, usually with minimal wall openings
- Insurance and resale problems solved along with the leak risk
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What it is
Polybutylene replacement Polybutylene replacement is the removal of polybutylene supply pipe, a gray plastic pipe used in some homes from the 1970s through the 1990s that is prone to sudden failure, and its replacement with PEX or copper.
A Denver homeowner should care because polybutylene can fail without warning and cause serious water damage, so replacing it removes that risk rather than waiting on it.
Polybutylene fails from the inside and gives no warning
Chlorine in treated water degrades the pipe wall and the acetal fittings over time. The failures are sudden, and they usually happen inside a wall or ceiling rather than somewhere visible. There is no repair strategy that makes polybutylene reliable again. Replacement is the only real fix.
- Removes an unpredictable flood risk from the house
- Clears an insurance and disclosure problem before you sell
- PEX replacement runs through the same paths with few openings
- Fixture shutoffs replaced at the same time
How to tell if you have polybutylene
- Gray, flexible plastic pipe about half or three quarter inch
- Stamped PB2110 on the tubing
- Plastic or copper crimp bands at the fittings
- House built between 1978 and 1995
- Pipe visible at the water heater or entering from the basement wall
- An unexplained leak already happened inside a wall
What the replacement covers
- Confirming the material and finding every polybutylene run in the house
- PEX replacement following the existing routes wherever possible
- Replacement of the polybutylene service line from the meter when present
- New angle stops and fixture supply lines
- Minimal access openings, located out of sight where the layout allows
- Permit, pressure test, inspection, and patching
What to expect and how the work gets done
- 1
Identify
Confirm PB2110 stamping and map every run, including the service line.
- 2
Plan
Route new PEX along existing paths to keep openings small.
- 3
Replace
Remove polybutylene distribution and install new supply throughout.
- 4
Test and document
Pressure test, inspection, and a written record for your insurer.
Credentials, reviews, and company proof
- Colorado Master PlumberRepipe work is permitted and inspected, with the whole system signed off, not patched section by section.
- Plumbing Contractor license 2110Licensed to pull permits on supply, drain, and service line replacement.
- Serving Denver since 2006Two decades opening walls in prewar bungalows, postwar ranches, and 1980s builds across the metro.
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Polybutylene replacement cost factors
This is a whole-house job by nature. Partial replacement leaves the risk in place.
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- Number of fixtures and floors
- Whether the underground service line is also polybutylene
- Slab, crawlspace, or basement routing
- Finished ceilings that must be opened and patched
- Number of fixture shutoffs being replaced
- Permit and inspection fees
Frequently asked questions
Licenses, credentials, and company proof
- Colorado Master PlumberLicense MP-18927
- Colorado State Plumbing ContractorLicense 2110
- Family Owned & OperatedServing Denver since 2006, 20 years
- Better Business BureauAccredited Business, A+ rating
- Angie's List Super Service Award2012 through 2017
- Serving Denver since 2006Residential and commercial properties across the metro
More plumbing help from Afford-A-Rooter
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- Partial Repipe OptionsBudget will not cover a full repipe? We phase the work by failure order and put the plan in writing. Free assessment. Call (720) 296-7972.View page
- Pipe Material Comparison GuideGalvanized, copper, polybutylene, PEX, cast iron, and PVC. What is in your Denver home, how each fails, and what to replace it with. (720) 296-7972.View page
- 24/7 Emergency PlumberPlumbing emergency in Denver? Afford-A-Rooter answers 24/7 and dispatches licensed plumbers for bursts, backups, and no-water calls. Call (720) 296-7972.View page
Still have gray polybutylene pipe?
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