Category: Plumbing

Polybutylene Supply Lines (Gray Plastic Valves And Hoses Under The Sink)

5/18/2018

Polybutylene valves and supply tubing under kitchen sink.

Do you have gray plastic shut off valves and supply hoses under you sinks and toilets? If your house was built in the 1970s to the mid 1990s you could find this type of valve and hose under a kitchen or bathroom sink or possibly under the toilet.

The gray plastic fittings in these pictures are made of polybutylene. This was a standard plumbing fixture valve and hose material from the 70s to to the mid 90s. During this period, there were issues with polybutylene supply tubing in walls and crawlspaces developing leaks and the use of this material was discontinued around 1995.

I still run across these type of valves and supply hoses under sinks and toilets. Given the past long term issues and problems with polybutylene piping I always recommend replacing these valves and hoses with modern plumbing parts.

Polybutylene valve and tubing under bathroom sink.

Polybutylene toilet supply valve and tubing.

What is normal water pressure?

4/7/2017

Water pressure between 40 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch) is considered normal in a residential setting. A home inspector will typically measure water pressure by screwing a pressure gauge to an outdoor hose bib (faucet) and opening the valve. The pressure reading in the picture below comes in at about 62 psi, right in the middle of the desired range.

Water pressure gauge attached to an outdoor hose bib. Pressure reading is 62 PSI.

Pressure gauge attached to an outdoor hose bib. Normal water pressure range is between 40 and 80 PSI.

This is a good reading to see - not too high and not too low. Goldilocks would like this house.

Water pressure above 80 psi can lead to problems. Some washing machine and water heater warranties may be voided if hooked up to a house with high pressure. Flexible supply lines for washers can actually burst with high enough pressure.

Water pressure below 40 psi can be a problem if multiple plumbing fixtures are operating at the same time. Lower pressure means lower water flow and potential inconvenience to someone taking a shower while someone else flushes a toilet.

What is that stuff on my water heater?

2/10/2017

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Water heaters are one of the most important things for daily comfort in our homes. Who doesn't look forward to that hot shower in the morning to get you going for the day? We rely on our water heaters to work day in and day out throughout years of service and rarely think about them. They are usually hidden away in the garage working hard to make hot water for daily use and slowly corroding away.

Since they are so back of mind, it's a good idea to check on them every once in a while. Catching problems early saves you in the long run, emergency service calls by a plumber tend to be a bit spendy.

Something that is easy to catch if you look for it is early signs of galvanic corrosion at the supply lines. Galvanic corrosion happens when two dissimilar metals make contact in a wet environment. The supply pipes to a water heater are a prime location for this to occur.

Galvanic corrosion at water heater supply lines.

Close up of the corrosion.

Supply line connections repaired. New dielectric unions and teflon tape.

What causes it? Like the root of a lot of problems in a house - water. Obviously water flows through the pipes and it can act as a bridge for an electrical charge. The pipe connections have to be shielded from water. This is usually done with a dielectric union and teflon tape. In the picture above likely both of these safeguards have failed.

This can be an easy fix if caught early. The dielectric union needs to be replaced and the connections need to be well protected with teflon tape.

I recommend watching this video from This Old House to learn more about this issue.

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