Plumbing · Built 1978–1995
Polybutylene Pipe in Homes Built 1978–1995
Homes built between 1978 and 1995 may have polybutylene (PB) water supply pipe — a plastic pipe material at the center of a large class-action settlement over fitting failures.
What it is
Polybutylene pipe was a common, lower-cost alternative to copper for water supply lines during this window. It typically looks like gray or blue plastic tubing, connected with plastic or metal crimp fittings.
Why it matters
PB pipe was the subject of a major class-action settlement (Cox v. Shell Oil, 1995) after widespread reports of brittle failure at the fittings, sometimes years after installation and without an obvious warning sign beforehand. Some mortgage insurers now ask for documented replacement before closing.
What's worth doing next
If a home falls in this build-year range, it's worth asking whether the original water lines have been replaced (a 'repipe') and, if not, having a plumber confirm what material is actually in the walls.
Code changes like these are prospective — they apply to new construction going forward, not retroactively to homes already built. A home that predates a given standard isn't out of compliance with anything; it just predates it. Tarn surfaces this as a consideration worth having evaluated, not a verdict on the home.
See if this applies to a specific address
Enter the year built alongside an address search, and Tarn checks it against this and every other code-era risk factor automatically.
Other code-era risk factors
- Lead Paint in Homes Built Before 1978
- Older Electrical Panels in Homes Built Before 1990
- Aluminum Branch Wiring in Homes Built 1965–1973
- Knob-and-Tube Wiring in Homes Built Before 1950
- Smoke Alarm Interconnection in Homes Built Before 1993
- Deck Lateral Load Anchoring in Decks Built Before 2015
- Water Heater Age Beyond Typical Lifespan