Complete Home Systems Transformation in Dunbar
Matt’s Dunbar home required far more than standard Poly B plumbing replacement. His heritage-era property contained polybutylene not only in the domestic water supply lines but throughout the hydronic baseboard heating system—a comprehensive infrastructure challenge that demanded coordinated expertise across multiple trades. Urban Piping delivered a complete home systems transformation encompassing plumbing, heating, gas, electrical, and lighting. The scope of the project also involved educating the homeowners on how to identify Poly B pipes in BC, as many property owners remain unaware of the risks associated with this type of plumbing. Urban Piping not only transformed the systems but also provided valuable insights into the long-term maintenance and safety of their new infrastructure. As a result, Matt’s home not only met modern standards but also ensured reliability for years to come.
The plumbing scope addressed every polybutylene line in the home: domestic water supply throughout, plus all main floor baseboard heating runs. Crews replaced everything with Rehau Class A PEX, soldering connections into the existing heating system while retaining functional boiler components. Standard infrastructure upgrades included Dahl shut-off valves at every fixture, brass exterior faucets, code-compliant laundry box, and braided distribution hoses throughout.
A new Rinnai Combi Boiler replaced the aging heating unit and separate hot water tank, consolidating two systems into one high-efficiency solution. The installation included new zone valves, expansion tank, high-efficiency venting, and liner/plug work for existing venting infrastructure. The Rinnai I120CN model carries a twelve-year limited parts warranty backed by three years of labor coverage.
Gas line upgrades supported both the new boiler and a gas range installation, running new lines from the meter into the house. Three customer-supplied toilets were removed and reinstalled with new wax rings and hardware. Electrical work included a dedicated 110-volt line for the stove. All gas and boiler work proceeded under proper permits with municipal inspection.
The project culminated with comprehensive lighting upgrades throughout the home. Thirty-eight new pot lights illuminated previously dim spaces, while thirteen existing fixtures received modern replacements. This Poly B Replacement Vancouver project demonstrates how coordinated renovation timing creates opportunities—with walls already open for plumbing access, electrical and lighting work proceeded efficiently without additional demolition.
Dunbar Vancouver Homes and Heritage Character
Dunbar occupies a coveted position on Vancouver’s West Side, bordered by Pacific Spirit Regional Park and the University of British Columbia to the west. The neighborhood’s development began in earnest during the mid-1920s following extensive logging and the arrival of streetcar service. Scottish immigrants were among the first settlers, establishing the community character that persists today.
Homes from this era reflect English Arts and Crafts and Edwardian architectural styles, with some of Vancouver’s earliest residential structures still standing on quiet, tree-lined streets. The 1922 zoning bylaws required substantial setbacks, creating the spacious lot configurations that define the neighborhood. Subsequent development waves in the post-war years and early 1970s added housing stock while maintaining the established residential character.
Matt’s West 33rd Avenue home represents the heritage-era construction common throughout Dunbar. These properties often feature hydronic baseboard heating systems—a method that circulates hot water through baseboard radiators rather than forced-air ducts. When polybutylene was installed in these heating systems during renovations or original construction, it creates a more complex replacement scenario than domestic-only Poly B.
The neighborhood’s mature character means many homes combine original construction elements with updates made across decades. Heating systems, plumbing infrastructure, and electrical systems may each date from different eras, creating layered renovation needs that benefit from coordinated contractor expertise.
Why Dunbar Heritage Homes Require Comprehensive Planning
Hydronic heating systems using Poly B present challenges beyond standard domestic water replacement. The heating lines run through baseboard units throughout the home, often embedded in walls and floors in ways that differ from supply plumbing. Replacement requires understanding both plumbing and heating system integration—soldering new connections into existing components while ensuring proper flow and pressure throughout.
Matt’s project illustrates the value of addressing multiple systems simultaneously. With walls already open for Poly B access, the electrical work for new pot lights proceeded without additional demolition. The gas line upgrades to support both the new boiler and gas range installation integrated into the overall project timeline. Three toilets could be removed during plumbing work and reinstalled with new hardware at project completion.
Heritage-era homes often present surprises during renovation. Original construction methods, previous renovation work of varying quality, and decades of accumulated modifications create conditions that demand experienced assessment and flexible problem-solving. Permitted work with municipal inspection adds complexity but ensures compliance and documentation for future reference.
The lighting transformation—fifty-one total fixtures between new installations and replacements—demonstrates how comprehensive renovation timing benefits homeowners. Installing pot lights in finished ceilings requires cutting access holes and running electrical. When plumbing work already necessitates drywall access, the incremental effort for lighting becomes far more manageable than standalone electrical projects.
Coordinated Renovation Timing Benefits Dunbar Homeowners
The scope of Matt’s project—spanning plumbing, heating, gas, electrical, lighting, and fixtures—represents what’s possible when homeowners think comprehensively about aging infrastructure. Rather than addressing Poly B replacement as an isolated plumbing project, Matt recognized the opportunity to modernize multiple systems during a single renovation period.
The new Rinnai Combi Boiler eliminated both the old heating unit and separate hot water tank, replacing two aging systems with one modern, high-efficiency solution. The gas line upgrades supported both this new boiler and the installation of a gas range, future-proofing the home’s fuel infrastructure. The comprehensive lighting upgrade transformed interior ambiance throughout the home.
For Dunbar homeowners considering Poly B replacement, Matt’s project illustrates the value of thorough assessment and planning. Understanding what other systems might benefit from simultaneous attention—heating, electrical, gas, fixtures—allows informed decisions about project scope. The walls opened for plumbing access represent temporary opportunities that close once drywall restoration completes.
Urban Piping’s ability to coordinate across trades—plumbing, heating, electrical, gas—enabled this comprehensive transformation under unified project management. Rather than scheduling separate contractors for each system, Matt worked with one team capable of addressing the full scope, ensuring coordination and consistent quality throughout.
Dunbar Complete Home Systems Project Photos
Urban Piping documents the work completed on every job site. Below are the project photos from Matt’s Dunbar complete home systems transformation project.
