What type of plumbing is used in mobile homes?
Plastic pipes have been the common in mobile homes since the mid-1980s, including CPVC, PVC, PB, ABS and, more recently, PEX. These are all acronyms for the much longer names, which are the chemical compositions of the pipes, and you can read about it at What do the ABS, PVC, CPVC, PB, and PEX plumbing pipe names mean?
What kind of pipe did mobile homes have in the 1930s?
Almost all mobile homes had PB pipe back then. Some had aluminum crimp rings, some had copper. The aluminum was by far the worst. Some had plastic fittings and some had copper and brass. The plastic was by far the worst. Those that had plastic fittings and aluminum crimp rings didn't stand a chance.
What is PB pipe used for in a mobile home?
PB pipe (shown above) was used extensively for mobile home water supply pipes from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, but has since been removed from the building code as an approved plumbing material because of leakage problems. It is no longer manufactured. Also, homeowner’s insurance for a mobile home with PB piping may be difficult to find.
Is there such a thing as gray plastic pipe?
I am very curious as to what you have. The only gray plastic pipe I know of is PB pipe. Today is PERFECT! All information and advice given is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The person doing the work is solely responsible to insure that their work complies with their local building code and OSHA safety regulations.
Is all GREY pipe polybutylene?
Knowing if your home contains polybutylene plumbing is important so you can take precautions. Beware of gray pipes: Polybutylene is a gray tube that carries potable water through many homes. PB is pretty much the only gray water pipe ever installed in homes.
How do you repair a polybutylene pipe?
0:597:57How To Fix Leaking Polybutylene Pipe - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf this was copper it would be much more difficult to try and sweat the pipe in the wall. And onMoreIf this was copper it would be much more difficult to try and sweat the pipe in the wall. And on that corner. And all that stuff and it would take them much longer.
Can I use PEX fittings on polybutylene pipe?
PB has the same outside diameter as PEX of the same nominal size, but outside diameters differ slightly between the tubing types. This means that you should not use PEX fittings on polybutylene, but that you can use PEX crimping rings and PEX crimping tools on barbed PB connections.
What is GREY pipe called?
Polybutylene is a gray plastic pipe that was used in residential construction from the 1978 through 1995, when manufacture was discontinued due to numerous leakage problems and lawsuits. It is also called “PB.” Although gray is the most common color, polybutylene can also be blue or black in color.
Do polybutylene pipes need to be replaced?
Polybutylene pipes deteriorate after about 10 to 15 years, so if you still have them, it's past time to look into replacing them. At a minimum, watch for signs of a hidden water leak.
Do polybutylene pipes need to be disclosed?
Almost all real estate listing agents require the seller to disclose the use of polybutylene pipes in the property. They suggest the sellers either bring the market price of the house down such that the buyer could make the necessary replacement or replace the system on their own with copper pipes.
What should I replace my polybutylene pipes with?
If your home contains polybutylene pipes, a plumber will discuss your options with you. Some homeowners opt to replace all of their plumbing, while others choose only to replace the visible pipes. Your plumber will shut off your water, replace the Big Blue with CPVC, and make any necessary repairs.
What kind of water pipe is used in mobile homes?
Plastic pipes have been the common in mobile homes since the mid-1980s, including CPVC, PVC, PB, ABS and, more recently, PEX.
How can you tell the difference between PEX and polybutylene?
Polybutylene pipe was commonly used from 1978 – 1995 and is a gray flexible pipe. PEX is a plastic flexible pipe that comes in white, blue, orange, red and a translucent milky white clear. This piping came about to replace polybutylene plumbing.
What is the grey PVC called?
electrical conduit PVCPVC pipe that is used for plumbing is usually white while electrical conduit PVC is usually gray.
Do polybutylene pipes always fail?
First things first, it's extremely important that we put something out there: there is no guarantee that Quest polybutylene pipes will fail. While studies have shown at least some small amount of a causal link to polybutylene plumbing being risky, the truth of the matter is that any material can fail.
Are polybutylene pipes illegal?
Though not banned, polybutylene pipes are no longer sold in the United States market. Most homes built after 1995 should not have polybutylene pipes, but there may still have been piping available and some plumbers may have still been using them.
Can polybutylene pipe be repaired?
Repairs to PB piping is very difficult since neither PB plumbing pipe nor the Quest fittings used to connect it are commonly made or sold anymore. The standard solution to problems, then, is to make repairs to the damaged sections of PB by transitioning to another type of pipe, or even to repipe the entire system.
Will a regular sharkbite work on polybutylene?
SharkBite PEX fittings make it easy to transition between pipe types during repairs. Fast, efficient and reliable, our transition fittings are compatible with Polybutylene, PEX, PVC, CPVC, PE-RT and SDR-9 HDPE, and are approved for behind-the-wall installation as well as burial.
How do you transition from polybutylene to PEX?
Cut and remove all the polybutylene piping from the house. Run new PEX piping through all the locations where the polybutylene used to be. Connect the pipes using PEX fittings and the expansion tool. Turn the water back on.
How do you fix a pinhole leak in a plastic pipe?
The most common method of repairing leaking PVC pipes is with pipe burst tape. This specialist repair tape is made from silicone and is self-fusing, meaning that it bonds to itself when wrapped around a damaged pipe to form a permanent bond over the leak area.
What is gray PEX?
Gray is polybutylene. PEX is either milky, or red. or blue. or red/blue striped.
Can you repipe a tin house on wheels?
Ideally there would be a complete repipe but that doesn't often happen on a tin house on wheels budget.
Can you use PEX fittings with polybutylene?
PEX fittings cannot be used with polybutylene. There is a transition coupling that has both a PB and PEX end as well as two different crimp rings. Again, the wall thickness of the PEX crimp is heavier, and the thinner version of the copper ring is for PB. PEX rings are usually colored black to tell the difference, while the copper rings for PB are plain copper.
What is grey piping?
Grey piping in the plumbing trade, which is indicated by the subjects you chose to include, is called CPVC or chlorinated poly vinyl chloride. Grey is schedule 80 as opposed to 40 (although it DOES come in schedule 40, but the uses are rare and it’s white) and is formulated to resist heat and warping more than normal PVC. It’s also really expensive, a 20′ length of 4″ pipe can easily run close to five-hundred dollars. It also requires a different glue as well. It’s often used in laboratories , aquariums, and medical facilities. Most of it is run for water services because of strength. Sometime
What is a bell on a pipe?
If it has a “bell" (fitting molded on one end of a section of pipe that the straight end of another section would slip into) it could possibly be “electrical conduit" which is used for running and protecting electric wires. Normally outdoors or undergound.
What is the difference between PVC and PVC conduit?
The biggest differences between PVC pipe and PVC conduit (other than their UV tolerance which is important over time) are the fittings. Conduit has sweep fittings. Water pipe 90s and 45s are VERY tight turns which make pulling wires very hard, often impossible and can damage the wires/insulation. Tees are completely different between pipe and conduit.
What is a pipe?
Pipe is pipe and is for conveying water inside of buildings or underground and not for exposed applications. It comes in both Schedule 40 (white) and Schedule 80 (dark gray).
What color is electrical conduit?
They are color coded to show that the white is general use pipe and the grey is electrical conduit.
How long does a polymer pipe last?
The design service life of most of the polymeric pipes is 50 years under standard pressure rating specified in the pipe, but is subject to temperature of 20 degree C. If the temperatures are higher (maximum being 40 degrees) derating factor for pressure rating of the pipe. This phenomena is called creeping.
Is there a difference between white and grey PVC pipe?
However, the kinds of fittings sold for each differs. White PVC pipe fittings tend to be small with tight curves, good for flowing water. Grey PVC pipe fittings tend to be large with broad curves several centimeters in length , good for pushing wire through. Grey PVC fittings often can't hold pressure.
When was polybutylene pipe used?
Polybutylene pipe is a gray plastic tubing that was commonly used as a water-supply plumbing pipe between 1978 and 1995 , at which time it was discontinued due to reports of pipes rupturing. In new construction, it was replaced by copper or more dependable forms of plastic pipe, such as CPVC and PEX.
How to fix a leaking PB pipe?
The best solution is to use a transition coupling to convert that section to PEX. You can transition close to the leak, but if possible, follow the length of pipe and replace as much of the pipe as you can reach.
How to change water supply lines to toilet?
Push-on shut-off valves are a good option for this repair, also. With new flex line water-supply tubes and push-on valves, you can change the water-supply lines to a toilet or faucet in minutes. Simply shut off water to the house, remove the old flex line from the fixture, cut back the PB pipe, push on a new shut-off valve, and connect a new flex line. Don’t forget to check for leaks several times after turning the water back on.
What type of fittings are used for polybutylene?
The outside diameter of PB tubing is the same as for PEX, CPVC, and copper pipe so using push-fit fittings is one option you can use. The other is to use a specific transition fitting designed for transitioning between two different materials.
Can you replace polybutylene plumbing?
If your home still has polybutylene (PB) plumbing pipe, it is very likely to eventually fail. So it is a good idea to be proactive and replace it. Mobile homes in particular were often plumbed with PB tubing, and PB was also frequently used in standard stick-built construction during the 1970s and through the mid-1990s.
Can you use push on couplings to replace a PB pipe?
When replacing large sections of pipe, you can also use push-on couplings to transition from PB to PEX, CPVC, or copper. It is a great way to break up an overall repiping project into segments if you don’t want to do it all at once. Connect to the PB pipe with a push-on coupling and run the new pipe from that point.
Can you use transition couplings to connect a PEX riser to a PB system?
When installing or replacing a shower valve or other valve inside the wall, it is best to use a transition couplings to connect a new PEX riser to the PB system, especially if there won't be an access panel. This would be a good time, though, to install an access panel to make future work easier.
Why are plumbing pipes different in manufactured homes?
Location of the plumbing pipes is different in manufactured homes simply because the homes are built differently. Supply lines is how water travels through the home to reach each fixture. In site-built homes, they are run inside the walls. In manufactured homes, they are almost always buried under the floor.
What type of pipe is used in plumbing?
You will need to know what type of pipe and fittings are used for each sub-system. There are basically 2 types of piping used in plumbing- metal and plastic. Most plumbing in manufactured homes uses plastic.
What is PEX pipe used for?
However, PEX pipe has a much higher heat resistance than most other plumbing pipes and is often used in water-based heating systems. It comes in a creamy white color, as well as red and blue which is used to denote hot and cold pipes respectively.
What is the most common type of plumbing?
Copper is the most common type of plumbing pipe used in the home, although it is more expensive than plastic piping. It is especially resistant to corrosion and can withstand high temperatures. Copper pipes come in three different sizes – type M, L, and K. Type M have very thin walls, while type L is of medium thickness, and type K is the thickest of the three.
What color is PEX pipe?
It comes in a creamy white color, as well as red and blue which is used to denote hot and cold pipes respectively.
What is a plastic pipe?
Plastic pipes include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), PEX pipe and PolyPipe®. Metal plumbing pipe consists of copper, stainless steel, and galvanized steel. Not all pipes are as useful or effective as others, and each type is used for a specific purpose in plumbing.
What are some myths about manufactured homes?
One myth about plumbing in manufactured homes is that there is no venting for the drain lines and that’s ridiculous. All drain-waste lines need venting to even work. Otherwise, the system would become air-locked. Another myth is that the manufactured housing industry uses substandard and unsafe pipes.
What was the worst pipe in a mobile home?
Almost all mobile homes had PB pipe back then. Some had aluminum crimp rings, some had copper. The aluminum was by far the worst. Some had plastic fittings and some had copper and brass. The plastic was by far the worst. Those that had plastic fittings and aluminum crimp rings didn't stand a chance.
Why does polybutylene leak?
The story is that the polybutylene would leech out platisizers because of prolonged contact with chlorine and/or other minerals in the water. This would cause cracks in the pipe that would end up being that tiny stream of water leaking and make fittings brittle and they would fail because of the movement due to the lack of clamps securing the pipe from vibration and surges.
