Atlanta Sewer Systems | Polybutylene Piping Repair Plumbing

Polybutylene is a blue or grey pipe with a manufacturer’s defect that causes pipe to split over time. Many homeowners in Atlanta have polybutylene even today. The following is a press release which appeared on www.pbpipe.com on June 11, 2008.

Homeowners With Leaking Polybutylene Pipes

May Qualify For Free Plumbing Replacement

Systems Installed in Approximately Six Million Homes

(Plano, TX) Under the terms of a class action settlement, if a polybutylene pipe system has leaked, is leaking now or leaks in the future, homeowners may qualify for a free plumbing replacement if they file their claims by May 1, 2009.

Polybutylene plumbing was installed in an estimated six million homes between January 1, 1978 and July 31, 1995, the dates for installations covered by the settlement. More than 330,000 homeowners have had their plumbing systems replaced under the free program so far, but tens of thousands more may be eligible for the free plumbing replacement.

Established in 1995, the $1.1 billion polybutylene pipe Settlement Fund has spent over $976 million in homeowner relief. There is no cost for homeowners. The Consumer Plumbing Recover Center (CPRC), established by the Court to administer the Fund, has received more than 2.1 million inquiries.

Polybutylene pipe, often referred to as plastic pipe, is somewhat flexible and usually gray, as opposed to PVC or CPVC products that are rigid and usually white or off-white. The pipes are joined by plastic or metal fittings held in place by aluminum or copper bands, about the diameter of a quarter. Polybutylene pipe might be located in an attic, crawl space or water heater closet, but is often installed beneath insulation materials. It is not used for drains, waste or vent piping, yard sprinkler systems, irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems, sewer lines, faucets or fixtures.

Homeowners with polybutylene pipe can call the CPRC at 1-800-392-7591 or visit www.pbpipe.com for information about filing a claim and to access claim forms.

“Consumers have found the plumbing replacement process quite simple and easy,” says Tim Taylor, general manager of the CPRC. “We are eager to inform them about the relief they are eligible to receive and to help them through the plumbing replacement process.”

Because all claims must be filed by May 1, 2009, “homeowners with leaking polybutylene pipe should call the CPRC or access the website as soon as possible,” Taylor says.

Homeowners who purchased their homes after September 12, 2005 have the right to exclude themselves from the Court-supervised replacement program and pursue their own claims. The home purchase date is earlier in certain counties in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. There, homeowners can exclude themselves if their home was purchased after August 12, 2002. Exclusion request forms must be filed before September 1, 2008 and are available at . Exclusion request forms must be filed before September 1, 2008 and are available at www.pbpipe.com.

Along with other pertinent information, statistics detailing the number of claims filed and replumbs completed in individual states and counties are available on the “Press Kit” section of www.pbpipe.com.