What to do · Kelowna & area
How to tell if you have Poly-B or Kitec pipe
Anderson Plumbing and Gas Fitting · owner-operated · last updated
Quick answer
Poly-B is a flexible grey plastic pipe, usually visible where it enters a water heater or under sinks; Kitec is aluminum-core plastic pipe with brass fittings, often blue or orange. Homes built from the mid-1970s to about 2007 can have one or the other, so it's worth checking. Call Anderson Plumbing and Gas Fitting at (250) 859-3548 if you're not sure.
Where to look, and what each pipe looks like
The easiest place to check is where the supply lines connect to your water heater, or under a sink or toilet where pipe is exposed. Poly-B is a flexible, matte grey plastic pipe, usually about half an inch to an inch across. Kitec is similar in flexibility but has a metal (aluminum) core sandwiched in the plastic, often coloured blue (cold) or orange/red (hot), with distinctive brass fittings. The printing on the pipe is the most reliable check: Poly-B is usually stamped PB2110, and Kitec is often stamped Kitec, KTC or IPEX. Kitec also came in other colours, so read the stamp rather than going by colour alone.
The age of the home
Age of the home is the other clue. Homes built from about 1985 to 1997 are the ones most likely to have Poly-B, though it was installed from the mid-1970s until manufacturing stopped in 1998; homes from about 1995 to 2007 can have Kitec. Neither is still installed in new construction.
Is it an emergency?
Neither material is an emergency by itself, and plenty of homes with it have no issues for years. With Poly-B the concern is fitting and pipe failures over time, particularly at crimped joints; with Kitec it is corrosion (dezincification) of its brass fittings. That is why insurers increasingly ask about it and some won't renew a policy without a plan to replace it.
Replacing it
If you find either one and want it addressed, repiping with PEX is the standard replacement; a renovation is often the most cost-effective time to do it, since the walls are already open.
Need this done?
See our Poly-B & Kitec replacement page for the full details, or call (250) 859-3548.
Questions, answered
Can I still claim from the Kitec settlement?
No. The claims deadline for the Kitec class action settlement was January 9, 2020, according to the settlement administrator, and it has closed.
Is Poly-B pipe illegal?
It's no longer permitted in new construction under the current plumbing code, but existing Poly-B isn't automatically illegal to leave in place. Some insurers treat it differently.
Does insurance require Poly-B replacement?
Policies vary; some insurers ask about it at renewal or require a replacement plan. Check your own policy, since this isn't something we can confirm on your behalf.
Can you repipe just part of a house?
Yes, though whole-home repiping is more common since it addresses the whole risk at once. We can do a section if that fits your situation better.
How much does repiping cost?
It depends on the home's size, how accessible the pipe runs are, and whether walls are already open. We assess the job on site before quoting.
Sources
The public records behind the local facts on this page.
Get an honest answer and a fair, upfront price
We are open 24/7 and tell you honestly when we can be there. You get the price before any work starts.