Poly-B Piping 101: What Homeowners Need to Know

Poly-B—short for polybutylene—was once a popular piping material used in homes across Alberta. Now, many homeowners are asking, what is poly-B piping, and is it time to consider a replacement? These are great questions, and Hydro-Flo Plumbing & Heating has the answers.

A Brief History of Poly-B Piping

Poly-B pipes gained popularity between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s. Builders favoured this material for its affordability and ease of installation. Lightweight and flexible, it required less labour than traditional copper lines. Thousands of homes across Canada were built with poly‑B in that era. In fact, between 1978 and 1997, it was one of the most dominant plumbing materials in North America.

Unexpected Problems with Poly-B

Municipalities with chlorine-treated water systems thought they had found a cost-effective plumbing solution—until the material developed weaknesses as it aged. First, chlorine in municipal water reacts with poly‑B pipes. This leads to flaking, micro-fractures, brittleness, and eventually leaks or bursts. Harsh Alberta winters make matters worse. Freezing water expands inside weakened pipes, increasing the risk of sudden bursts. Due to these concerns, the Canadian Plumbing Code removed poly-B as an approved material in 2005.

Insurance providers consider poly‑B a liability. Many have tightened coverage, increased premiums, or outright declined to cover homes with this type of piping. Also, homebuyers who discover poly-B during inspections may walk away or demand concessions. Removing it now helps prevent emergency repairs later and ensures compliance with current building codes.

How to Identify Poly-B Piping

Figuring out whether you have poly-B in your home is straightforward when you know what to look for:

• Appearance: Poly-B is blue, black, or gray plastic with “PB2110” stamped on the pipe itself.
• Feel: The piping is lightweight and flexible compared to copper or galvanized steel.
• Location: Check the supply lines near your water heater, under sinks, and around the main shut-off valve.
• Leaks: If you find mould or water stains on walls or ceilings, poly-B could be the source of hidden leaks.

Popular Replacement Materials

If your home has poly‑B plumbing, two modern alternatives come to mind: copper and PEX. Choosing between them depends on your specific needs, budget, and how much access is available inside your home.

Copper is one of the most durable plumbing materials available. It has a long-standing reputation for resisting corrosion and handling high pressure. It doesn’t degrade in chlorinated water and performs exceptionally well in the cold Alberta climate.

PEX, or cross-linked polyethylene, is a flexible, high-performance material that’s easier to install and often more affordable than copper. It works well in tight spaces, resists scale buildup, and handles pressure changes effectively. PEX has become a popular choice for poly-B piping replacement due to its freeze tolerance and low labour costs.

What Affects the Cost to Replace Poly-B Piping in AB?

The most accurate way to determine pricing is with a formal estimate based on the parameters of your project. Before scheduling a visit, understand the key cost factors you’ll encounter:

• Home size and layout: Larger homes or ones with many bathrooms require more materials and installation time.
• Accessibility: Pipes hidden behind drywall, ceilings, or in crawl spaces increase labour costs.
• Material selection: Copper generally costs more than PEX, both in terms of materials and installation time.
• Permits and inspections: Some municipalities require permits or formal inspections before and after the work is completed.
• Prep and cleanup: Drywall patching, mould removal, and repainting add to the total cost.
• Seasonality: In winter, prices may increase due to higher demand and conditions that make access more difficult.

Why Hydro-Flo Is Qualified to Perform Poly-B Replacement

Hydro-Flo Plumbing & Heating is a trusted name for poly-B piping replacement throughout Edmonton and surrounding cities. As a locally owned and operated company with over 18 years of experience, we’ve worked extensively in Alberta’s cold climate and understand the plumbing challenges that come with it.

Homeowners value our 24-hour emergency service, competitive pricing, and dedication to quality. We offer financing to spread out the cost of repiping your home and will handle any permitting requirements. Most importantly, we give homeowners peace of mind by doing the job right the first time.

Our Poly-B Replacement Process

We begin with a complete assessment of your existing plumbing system. Our licensed technicians identify whether you have poly-B and how far it runs through your home. Once we know what we’re working with, we prepare your property by covering floors and furniture to mitigate damage.

During the replacement, our skilled plumbers carefully remove old poly-B through strategically placed access points. Depending on your preferences and plumbing layout, we may install copper or PEX piping. Every connection features durable fittings that meet today’s building standards. With the new pipes in place, we pressure-test the system to check for leaks and confirm performance.

Finally, our team can restore your walls and ceilings by repairing any access holes we opened during the process. (This is outside our initial estimate, but we’re happy to provide quotes for this service upon request.) If we discover any mould or water damage during cleanup, we’ll connect you with a remediation service provider. Before we wrap up, we’ll walk you through the new system so you know exactly what’s been done—and enjoy peace of mind that it’s been done correctly.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

If your home has poly-B piping—or you suspect that it might—act now before a leak leads to costly damage. Hydro-Flo provides plumbing inspections and poly-B piping replacements in Edmonton and surrounding cities. We follow the Canadian Plumbing Code, use approved materials, and help make your home safer and more insurable. Contact us today for a detailed quote and expert advice.