Mamba Drainage Services
Poly-B Pipe Replacement Vancouver
Grey plastic plumbing in a Vancouver home built between 1978 and 1995 is polybutylene, one of the worst residential plumbing materials ever made. It degrades from the chlorine in BC municipal water, fails at the joints, and most home insurance will not cover the damage after a leak.
We re-pipe Poly-B homes across Vancouver in PEX or copper, with the permit pulled, the City inspection done and a 10 year workmanship warranty. Free in home assessment with a photo report.
Why Poly-B fails in Vancouver homes
Polybutylene went into tens of thousands of Vancouver homes between 1978 and 1995, mostly single family in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge and North Van, plus the East Van suites built in that window. The pipe is grey or light blue, about 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch, with copper or grey acetal fittings crimped on with metal bands. If your basement utility wall has greyish plastic pipe feeding upstairs, you have Poly-B.
Chlorine attack. BC municipal water carries chlorine for disinfection, and chlorine reacts with polybutylene over 15 to 25 years, embrittling the pipe wall from the inside out. Eventually it cracks at a stress point, usually a fitting, an elbow, or a section that got flexed during construction.
Fitting failures. The original acetal fittings used through the early 1980s were the weakest point, and the US class action settlements over them ran into the billions. Most fittings here have since been swapped to copper, but the pipe itself is still aging.
Insurance refusal. Most BC home insurance policies now exclude Poly-B failure damage, or require the replacement before they will renew coverage. We have seen claims denied on small drips that turned into wall flooding.
Resale impact. Vancouver agents flag Poly-B during pre inspection. Buyers either negotiate the offer down or walk. Replacing before listing usually nets more than the replacement costs.
The question is not whether Poly-B will fail. It is whether you replace it on your schedule or after a flood in the middle of the night. We recommend planned replacement on any Vancouver home with Poly-B past the 25 year mark.
What a Poly-B re-pipe actually involves
Poly-B tips from Vancouver re-pipe jobs
- Identify Poly-B by colour and stamp. Grey or light blue plastic pipe, usually 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch, stamped PB-2110 or similar along its length. If you can see it in the utility room or the basement ceiling, the rest of the house almost certainly has it too.
- Do not wait for a leak. Poly-B failures usually start in walls and ceilings where you cannot see them. By the time you notice the drip on the bedroom ceiling, the wall has been wet for weeks and the mould remediation is its own bill.
- Replace before listing if you can. Vancouver buyers and their inspectors flag Poly-B every time. Doing it first usually adds more to the sale price than it costs, and we give you a documentation package suitable for the listing.
- Read your insurance renewal letter. Many BC insurers now require Poly-B replacement to renew coverage past the 25 year mark. If yours is flagging it, replacement has stopped being optional.
- Get a real assessment, not a phone quote. A price quoted over the phone is always too low. The real number depends on access points, finish complexity, fixture count and material. Our on site assessment is free and gives you a firm written number.
What Vancouver customers say
Ryan was great! My landlord called him to fix my blocked kitchen sink. He showed up the same day (on a Sunday) and fixed the problem. He even cleaned the sink and dried up all the water that had leaked before he got there. And he was very careful coming in and out of the house so my cat wouldn’t get out. I’d definitely recommend him.
Ryan is INCREDIBLE. He has been responding to all of us (four houses and families!) affected by a sewage back up. This is all on Boxing Day and beyond, in terrible weather full of ice, cold and rain. He is so knowledgeable, and knew what was needed right away. Just the top of his field I am sure. As well as that, he is incredibly calm, respectful, kind and fair. I am truly amazed by this person's capacity and competence in combination with his noble, calm presence in the face of a real mess. Thank you Ryan, so very much!
I had very positive experience with Mamba Services, Ryan was amazing to work with and took care of my drain issues in no time. He arrived on time, was very professional and efficient in carrying out the work. What impressed me was how honest he was in recommending needed repair. He was very patient in explaining the different options. I will certainly call them for future projects.
Had an excellent experience. Ryan was fantastic, it was an after hours call late in the evening and he showed up exactly in the time frame he gave. Took care of the kitchen sink issue within minutes all systems were running like new. Pricing was extremely reasonable, Ryan was patient and explained everything to me while fixing my problem. I would highly recommend this company for any plumbing work.
Ryan was efficient, experienced, and knowledgeable. He was able to squeeze me into his schedule with short notice and wasted no time with my appointment. He arrived on site inspected the issue, and was quickly at work with resolving the problem. I am very pleased with his service and honesty. He provided recommendations that will help assist me in future occurrences.
Poly-B replacement
Find out what is actually in your walls
Grey or light blue plastic pipe with metal bands crimped over the fittings is Poly-B. Send us a photo of the utility wall or call it in, and you will know where you stand before a quote exists.
Poly-B replacement FAQ, Vancouver
It comes down to the size of the house and how many fixtures we run to. A 1,500 square foot bungalow, a 2,500 square foot Vancouver Special and a 3,500 square foot executive home are three different jobs. Every quote is all in, covering the permit, City inspection, manifold, individual shutoffs, drywall patch, paint match and the 10 year warranty. Copper adds 30 to 50% over PEX. You get the number in writing after we have walked the house.
No. We plan 12 to 18 strategic 8 by 8 inch access cuts rather than thirty random holes, then patch with proper drywall, tape and mud, sand smooth and match the existing paint. Most homeowners cannot find the access points once we are done.
Yes. City of Vancouver Plumbing and Gas, pulled under our licence. The inspector signs off on the rough in and again on the final pressure test, and you keep the inspection card.
PEX for most Vancouver homes. It is flexible, chlorine resistant, colour coded, cheaper and carries a 25 year manufacturer warranty. Copper is the premium choice for visible runs in a utility room or where you are matching existing copper, and it runs 30 to 50% more. We bid both and let you choose.
Usually not. Most BC insurers exclude planned Poly-B replacement. If you have an active Poly-B leak, the resulting damage may be covered depending on the policy, and we can quote the re-pipe as part of the restoration. Without a leak it is almost always out of pocket, and financing is available.
Yes, townhouses and low rise apartments from the Poly-B era. We coordinate with the property manager and council, schedule overnight where it is needed, and provide certificates for the reserve fund file. We price per unit and the number drops when units are booked together.
24/7 EMERGENCY DISPATCH
Water where it should not be?
Ryan picks up. Live dispatch, and you get a real arrival window on the call.