polybutylene pipe

Started by CarolH2 • 10 replies • 2035 views

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CarolH2 (Georgia)
Posts: 33

Posted:

OK Hope I can be brief with getting the point across.

I live in an HOA community where ALL the property is owned by HOA. We have about 50 houses that were built by one builder who use polybutylene pipe for the water line. About 80% of the homes built by this builder have had the pipes go bad and have to have them fixed. We have one owner claiming the pipe only went bad because we had old dead bushes removed and we ruined his pipe. The HOA does not feel that is the case. Neither the board nor the homeowner can prove the problem either way. Who in your opinion should be responsible for the repair of this? Thanks for reading and responding.

CarolH2 (Georgia)
Posts: 33

Posted:

Let me add that the homes are individual standing homes and the property the house sits on is owned by the homeowner. . we refer to it as owning to the drip line.

MarkM31 (Washington)
Posts: 556

Posted:

Who has repaired the pipe in all the other cases?

CarolH2 (Georgia)
Posts: 33

Posted:

Homeowners.

MarkM31 (Washington)
Posts: 556

Posted:

Ask him to supply proof that the landscaping destroyed the piping

MarkM31 (Washington)
Posts: 556

Posted:

I think there has been a number of class actions involving PB also.

There is a member of the UA that knows the most about plumbing here on this board

CarolH2 (Georgia)
Posts: 33

Posted:

There are many lawsuits regarding this piping.

It is just very frustrating because no one else asked the HOA to fix it. The HOA removed dead bushes near his home and his claim that that is what caused the problem I just do not think is valid. We are trying to make the right choice for the HOA without a law suit. The owner is doing nothing and is letting the water leak and is now claiming he is going to come after HOA for the water bill as well. The HOA is concerned that if we concede to this resident we will have to in the future fix all the houses with this problem.

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

PB piping is a nightmare. (not actually pipe, but tube)

It was originally designed for above grade VISIBLE installation only.

There have been several class action suits, but they have all expired.

"Cox" was the notorious suit which allowed for repiping of homes or cash settlement.

However, PolyButylene tube was also used for water supply to the home from the curb-box.

It was specified to be run minimum 18" deep, and below the root line of any vegetation, and below the frost line (in colder climes).

It was specified as a CONTINUOUS run w/o any non-accessible joints or couplings while underground.

To answer the original ?:

Who owns the tube where it broke?

Was it installed properly as per above specs?

Pulling a bush should NOT have broken a PROPERLY run main at the minimum depth.

However, south of the Mason-Dixon, mains tend to run very very shallow in violation of even the IBC (international building code).

IMO: It matters not what the HOA did in the past. Your covenants should spell out the responsibilities and ownership of the property. Y'all used the term 'drip edge' when referring to responsibility. Presumably the break occurred on the common side of said 'drip edge'. D'OH

Best of Luck

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

ps.

assuming a shallow 'lay' in Georgia type sandy soil a repair should be a two hour job

replacement may take 1/2 day unless very very long run

Y'all may be arguing (worst case)about less than $800.

CarolH2 (Georgia)
Posts: 33

Posted:

PitA,

Thank you so much this info is helpful. Not sure why the other homeowners assumed the responsibility. I will have to review our documents. They never asked up to fix it and we never offered.

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

may, or may not, involve the term:

exclusive use common element

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