Is There A Polybutylene Plumbing Lawsuit?
We're not aware of any current polybutylene lawsuits, but there has been a lot of litigation in the past surrounding this type of plumbing.
The most notable case was against Qest (aka Quest), a brand name for a type of polybutylene pipe. The Cox v. Shell Oil class-action lawsuit resulted in nearly a billion-dollar settlement in 1995, which was paid out to thousands of homeowners over the following years.
In 2017, a new polybutylene class-action was filed—Hurt v. Shell Oil—aimed at homeowners who were left out of the 1995 settlement. It was dismissed in 2018 "with prejudice," meaning it can't be refiled. This makes it much harder for owners of Qest or other polybutylene pipes to pursue new lawsuits.
We handle a steady stream of polybutylene pipe replacements (probably several dozen per week) and it's been a long time since we've heard of anyone being able to get reimbursed for their repipe costs through legal action.
Can I Still Receive Compensation If I Have Polybutylene Plumbing?
If you didn't participate in past lawsuits involving polybutylene plumbing, the deadline to claim compensation has long passed.
The final deadline for the Cox v. Shell Oil case passed several years ago. If you still have polybutylene pipes and didn't take part in earlier class-actions, your legal options are now very limited.
We're not lawyers and this isn't legal advice. That said, we've seen firsthand how keeping polybutylene plumbing can create serious financial headaches for homeowners.
What Should I Do If I Have Polybutylene Plumbing?
If you still have polybutylene plumbing, it's worth considering a repipe, even if you haven't had any leaks yet and the chance of future polybutylene lawsuits is low. Upgrading your pipe material now can help prevent costly plumbing issues down the line.
Why Repiping Your Outdated Polybutylene Pipes Makes Sense
Polybutylene pipes have a known history of failure and can be a serious liability for homeowners. Having polybutylene plumbing in your house can also create problems if you're trying to sell your home. In our experience, once a single polybutylene leak occurs, it's usually a sign of a systemic issue and other leaks are likely to follow.
The damage from a polybutylene water leak can quickly exceed the cost of a complete, cost-effective repipe, not to mention the expense of repeated plumbing repairs. Our full-home repipe replaces your outdated piping system with modern Uponor PEX-A tubing o American-made Grade-L copper, ensuring a safer and more reliable plumbing system. Repiping:
- reduces the risk of future water leaks and plumbing issues
- replaces unreliable pipe material with durable PEX pipes
- provides a cost-effective solution compared to repeated repairs
- protects your home's plumbing system and resale value
If your home still has polybutylene plumbing, one of our complete whole-home repipes is the best way to avoid potential failures, ensuring a long-lasting, trouble-free piping system.
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With over 75,000 repipes completed, we've perfected our One-Stop Repipe™ for your home.
Receive A Free Polybutylene Replacement Quote
Here at Repipe Specialists, we've fully replaced polybutylene plumbing in thousands of homes across the USA with modern PEX tubing or copper pipe. We continually get positive customer feedback from customers about their whole home repipe experience. We often exceed their expectations on:
- Speed: Our repipe crews typically complete a repipe in a day, returning on another day for wall patching.
- Convenience: Through our One-Stop Repipe™ Process, we handle everything from permits, to wall patching, to inspections.
- Cleanliness: Our crews are trained to protect your home while working (we cover all surfaces with protective sheeting), and to clean up fully at the end of each day.
- Peace of Mind: Repipe Specialists is a fully licensed plumber in every state we operate in, and we back all of our repipes with a lifetime warranty.
- Financing programs: To help take the sting out of unplanned repipe expenses, we offer several financing programs.
- Price: As a specialist that performs hundreds of repipes a week, we can deliver high quality repipes at a lower cost vs generalist plumbers. We have an article that covers repipe cost factors in detail. Our quotes typically range from $4,500 to $15,000 depending on the size and complexity of your project.
Schedule a free in-home consult, and a local estimator will explain all your repipe options and provide you with a written, fixed-price quote.