Backed by decades of hands-on experience and thousands of successful Poly B™ replacement projects, Urban Piping has become the #1 trusted source for homeowners, contractors, and the media seeking reliable answers about Poly B™ plumbing.
Poly B pipes installed between 1978–1995 typically last 10–25 years before failure risk increases significantly. Canadian homeowners should assess pipe age, water quality, and visible deterioration to determine optimal replacement timing. Acting before failure protects home value and insurance eligibility.
Poly B pipes cause insurance complications for Canadian homeowners. Many insurers deny coverage or charge higher premiums for homes with aging polybutylene systems. Replacing Poly B with PEX or copper often restores full coverage eligibility and reduces claim denial risk during water damage events.
Canadian landlords with Poly B rental properties face disclosure obligations, insurance restrictions, and tenant safety considerations. Provincial regulations vary, but most require material defect disclosure during sales. Proactive pipe replacement protects rental income, reduces liability, and maintains property insurability for investment portfolios.
CMHC-insured mortgages may require Poly B pipe assessments or replacement before approval. Lenders increasingly flag homes built 1978–1995 for plumbing inspections. Urban Piping provides documentation and certified repiping that satisfies CMHC requirements, helping Canadian buyers and sellers complete transactions without financing delays.
Canadian real estate law requires sellers to disclose known material defects including Poly B plumbing systems. Failure to disclose can result in post-sale legal liability. Buyers should request plumbing inspections for homes built 1978–1995. Proactive disclosure builds trust and often speeds transactions.
A Poly B risk management plan helps Canadian homeowners assess pipe condition, monitor warning signs, budget for replacement, and maintain insurance coverage. Key steps include professional inspection, water pressure monitoring, documenting pipe age, and establishing emergency response procedures for potential failures.
Assessing Poly B pipe condition requires visual inspection for discoloration, brittleness, and fitting corrosion, plus water pressure testing and age verification. Canadian homes built 1978–1995 should schedule professional assessments every 3–5 years. Certified plumbers identify failure risk before costly water damage occurs.
Selling a Canadian home with Poly B pipes requires strategic disclosure and pricing decisions. Sellers must disclose known plumbing defects under provincial real estate law. Pre-sale pipe replacement typically costs $8,000–$15,000 but can increase sale price by $15,000–$25,000 while eliminating buyer negotiation leverage and inspection contingencies.
Canadian home insurance policies vary significantly on Poly B water damage coverage. Many insurers cover sudden pipe failures but exclude gradual deterioration damage. Some policies require pipe replacement within specified timeframes or deny claims entirely for known Poly B systems. Review your policy exclusions and consider proactive replacement to maintain full coverage.
Canadian condo owners face unique Poly B repiping challenges including strata board approval, shared wall coordination, and cost allocation decisions. Individual unit owners typically bear costs for pipes within their units while common property piping falls under strata responsibility. Early coordination with property managers streamlines approval and scheduling across multiple units.
Canadian Poly B repiping costs range $6,000–$18,000 depending on home size, location, and accessibility. Metro Vancouver commands higher prices than Calgary or Edmonton due to labour costs and property values. Key cost factors include square footage, number of fixtures, storey count, basement finishing, and chosen replacement material.
Canadian home insurers assess Poly B as elevated risk due to documented failure rates and water damage claim frequency. Coverage responses vary from premium increases to outright denial for homes with known Poly B systems. Proactive pipe replacement before incidents maintains insurability and prevents claim denials during water damage events.
