FYI: Polybutylene pipe, as you may know has been "recalled" in homes. The problem is Clorine and Heat. This is not a real problem in most boats. I assume that everyone turns off their water heaters when they leave the boat and no one is putting that much bleach in their water systems. If you are adding bleach on a regular basis, I would recommend that you add a water filter to your system and only shock your system once or twice a season. Shocking your water system dictates that you add a high dosage of bleach to your system and flush it out within 12-24 hours.
Polybutylene Pipe.
- Thread starter Steve Dion
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
How much polybutylene pipe is on boats?
I've yet to see any...have you? As for your advice against adding bleach to each fill, I've always preached against that, whether any plumbing on the boat is polybutylene or not.
I've yet to see any...have you? As for your advice against adding bleach to each fill, I've always preached against that, whether any plumbing on the boat is polybutylene or not.
all the plumbing on Hunters were polyb.
All of the plumbing on the mid 80's hunters were polybuytlene. Don't know if they are using it now or not. It is a good product for boats and RV's, just not homes.
All of the plumbing on the mid 80's hunters were polybuytlene. Don't know if they are using it now or not. It is a good product for boats and RV's, just not homes.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
I had to replace it in my house in Atlanta
Not IN the house--that was all copper...but the line coming from the meter to the house. Hard to see how heat could have been a factor in a pipe buried 4' deep, though. I wasn't aware that any of it had ever been used on boats.
Not IN the house--that was all copper...but the line coming from the meter to the house. Hard to see how heat could have been a factor in a pipe buried 4' deep, though. I wasn't aware that any of it had ever been used on boats.
Same problem.
My sister owns a home in Scottsdale, AZ. She had the same problem with the service line that burst. The house was less than 5 years old at the time.
My sister owns a home in Scottsdale, AZ. She had the same problem with the service line that burst. The house was less than 5 years old at the time.
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Scott Narum
Mine could be...
My new Hunter 326 certainly has flexible plastic water lines, for both hot and cold. These could be polybutylene, or perhaps they are PEX...I'll have to check. From what I remember about PB, it was a fittings-related problem.
My new Hunter 326 certainly has flexible plastic water lines, for both hot and cold. These could be polybutylene, or perhaps they are PEX...I'll have to check. From what I remember about PB, it was a fittings-related problem.
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Jon
Polybutelyene Pipes have been used in boats.
My 1985 O'Day 35 was plumbed with PB pipe and I never had any problems with it during 11-yrs. of ownership. I also used it when upgrading my present O'Day 240. It's now had 6-yrs of service. On board water pressure is typically much lower than land-based home systems, and (knock wood) the problem with PB fittings should therefore not apply to boats.
My 1985 O'Day 35 was plumbed with PB pipe and I never had any problems with it during 11-yrs. of ownership. I also used it when upgrading my present O'Day 240. It's now had 6-yrs of service. On board water pressure is typically much lower than land-based home systems, and (knock wood) the problem with PB fittings should therefore not apply to boats.
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Mike
Bleach is Chlorine
Bleach will shock your system, but will affect Polybutylene piping (It is chlorine). Anything over 3 ppm (parts pre million) will begin to erode polybutylene piping. To be certain, get rid of the polybutylene. It isn't worth the few dollars to find your boat marinated in chlorinated drinking water after you have been away for a while. Besides, PolyB piping is not very flexible and can break with just a little rough handling. Why take the chance?
Bleach will shock your system, but will affect Polybutylene piping (It is chlorine). Anything over 3 ppm (parts pre million) will begin to erode polybutylene piping. To be certain, get rid of the polybutylene. It isn't worth the few dollars to find your boat marinated in chlorinated drinking water after you have been away for a while. Besides, PolyB piping is not very flexible and can break with just a little rough handling. Why take the chance?
Still used in the RV & Marine industries.
Mike: I really do not think that PolyB is any risk what so ever in a boat. We do not have any of the environemental issues that exist in a home. It has been used in the RV & Boating industry for many years with good success. My boat has never had a leak and it is a 1985. I have a fellow that does a few things on my boat and I have asked him about it and he feels that it is a very good product for our environment. You mention that it is not flexible? It comes rolled up when you purchase the hose!
Mike: I really do not think that PolyB is any risk what so ever in a boat. We do not have any of the environemental issues that exist in a home. It has been used in the RV & Boating industry for many years with good success. My boat has never had a leak and it is a 1985. I have a fellow that does a few things on my boat and I have asked him about it and he feels that it is a very good product for our environment. You mention that it is not flexible? It comes rolled up when you purchase the hose!
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
I THINK all PB pipe is blue...
That was how my plumber identified the source of the flood in my front yard when it broke--he opened the water meter box and looked at the pipe coming off the meter And it wasn't a fittings issue...the pipe broke somewhere underground between the meter and my basement wall. Damn thing lasted a little over 10 years--just a year longer than my eligibility to submit a claim for the cost of replacing it.
That was how my plumber identified the source of the flood in my front yard when it broke--he opened the water meter box and looked at the pipe coming off the meter And it wasn't a fittings issue...the pipe broke somewhere underground between the meter and my basement wall. Damn thing lasted a little over 10 years--just a year longer than my eligibility to submit a claim for the cost of replacing it.
Color it Gray or Black.
PolyB pipe is usually Gray or Black. http://www.americas-real-estate.com/beware-polybutylene-pipe.htm
PolyB pipe is usually Gray or Black. http://www.americas-real-estate.com/beware-polybutylene-pipe.htm
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Mine was definitely blue...
And the builder confirmed that it was PB. I noticed that the class action suit only refers to problems with pipe installed between 1995 and 1997. Mine was installed in '86...which may account for the color.
And the builder confirmed that it was PB. I noticed that the class action suit only refers to problems with pipe installed between 1995 and 1997. Mine was installed in '86...which may account for the color.
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Chris Gonzales
Polybutylene....
If I recall, the problem with using this type of pipe in housing was primarily water pressure bursting the crimped fittings. In RVs you must us a pressure regulator set at 40 psi to protect against that. Most boats do not have a "city water" hook-up where pressurised water from the hose is directly fed to the onboard plumbing. The onboard tank is filled with the hose and the water is sent to fixtures by a low pressure pump. There now is PB piping that is made for hot water. It has been available about 5 years or so. RV manufacturers reccomend sanitizing their fresh water systems (with polybutylene piping) when the unit hasn't been used for a long time, or the unit will sit in storage for a long period, using chlorine bleach solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water per each 15 gallons of tank capacity. Once the tank is filled the faucets are opened so the solution fills all water lines. The faucets are then closed to let the solution sit for at least 4 hours. The tank is then drained and the water system flushed with fresh water for several minutes until the chlorine is removed. PB can be grey, red, blue or black.
If I recall, the problem with using this type of pipe in housing was primarily water pressure bursting the crimped fittings. In RVs you must us a pressure regulator set at 40 psi to protect against that. Most boats do not have a "city water" hook-up where pressurised water from the hose is directly fed to the onboard plumbing. The onboard tank is filled with the hose and the water is sent to fixtures by a low pressure pump. There now is PB piping that is made for hot water. It has been available about 5 years or so. RV manufacturers reccomend sanitizing their fresh water systems (with polybutylene piping) when the unit hasn't been used for a long time, or the unit will sit in storage for a long period, using chlorine bleach solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water per each 15 gallons of tank capacity. Once the tank is filled the faucets are opened so the solution fills all water lines. The faucets are then closed to let the solution sit for at least 4 hours. The tank is then drained and the water system flushed with fresh water for several minutes until the chlorine is removed. PB can be grey, red, blue or black.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Actually, Chris many boats have dock water
connections that connect directly to the plumbing instead of going through the tank. The system includes a pressure reducer. However, pressure reducers have a high failure rate, which in turn results in a "blow out" somewhere in the onboard plumbing. Not a big deal if people are aboard and awake to hear the sudden gush of water and turn if off on the dock...but it sinks more than a few boats every year on which no one was aboard when it happened. And btw...your instructions for recommissioning the fresh water system are very close to those in the article "Fresh water maintenance" in the Head Mistress forum reference library.
connections that connect directly to the plumbing instead of going through the tank. The system includes a pressure reducer. However, pressure reducers have a high failure rate, which in turn results in a "blow out" somewhere in the onboard plumbing. Not a big deal if people are aboard and awake to hear the sudden gush of water and turn if off on the dock...but it sinks more than a few boats every year on which no one was aboard when it happened. And btw...your instructions for recommissioning the fresh water system are very close to those in the article "Fresh water maintenance" in the Head Mistress forum reference library.
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