Ways to Identify Poly B Piping It is crucial to know how to identify Poly B pipes in your home, especially if you are living in an older home or you are interested in purchasing one. Here are a few things to check through when trying to figure out if you have poly b piping in your home. Find Out When Your Home Was Built The first way to know if Poly B piping was used in your home is to check when your home was built. If your home was constructed between 1985 and 1997, and that you have not carried out extensive plumbing renovations in the home, you may have poly b piping in your home. Identify Poly B Piping by Color Look out for Poly B in your home by its colors. Polybutylene piping comes in silvery gray, blue, and blank colors. Silvery gray and black colors were used interchangeably for both indoor and outdoor uses while blue poly B pipes were mainly used for cold water. Look for Poly B Stamping on the Plumbing Pipes Poly B pipes have identifiable stamping on them. Although they are flexible and sometimes have color codes as explained above, they are also made from plastic material and have the letters “PB” preceding a string of numbers imprinted on them. The most common stamping on polybutylene pipes is “PB2110.” If you see these numbers, contact a plumber and have them quote you on a poly b replacement for the building. Checking Plumbing Installation Locations There are certain areas to check in the home for Poly B pipes. For the outdoor location, check the main water shut-off valve for Poly B pipes, especially at the water meter when coming in from the basement. For indoor area, check the basement ceilings and walls, feeding into sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and also around the hot water heaters. Check Hidden Places for Different Plumbing Pipes You have to look further for Poly B by removing the panels behind the toilets, tubs, and showers and under sinks to expose the plumbing pipes. There may be galvanized steel or copper pipe fittings used to connect Poly B pipes behind the walls. Check Plumbing Fitting Locations Another way to know if Poly B pipes were used in your home is to look out for aluminum, copper, or brass crimp fittings that plumbers used to link different Poly B pipes to plumbing joints and fittings. The sight of these fittings is a good place to check if there is any poly b piping connected in your home. Hire a Professional Poly B Plumber If you are unsure how to check, you should hire a professional Poly B plumber who has the right training and experience in finding the Poly B pipes in homes. As long as the age of your home falls within the time frame when Poly B piping was introduced, do not take chances; let a professional help you out. Poly B pipes do not show signs of wear and tear from the outside, even when they look completely okay. Poly B pipes are damaged by oxidants in the public water supply, harsh weather, and water pressure. So, there is no way you can tell that the polybutylene pipes in your home are in perfect condition. Avoid water damage by a sudden burst of Poly B pipes may require emergency plumbing and timely poly b replacement. Contact us if you require any assistance.