Is it possible to insure a home with polybutylene pipes?

Because it has a track record of leaking. InterNACHI says polybutylene was made "between 1978 and mid-1995" and was "installed in up to 10 million homes" in the United States. Production stopped in 1996 "after scores of allegations surfaced claiming that polybutylene pipes were rupturing and causing property damage." Class action lawsuits against the makers resulted in "payouts to homeowners reaching $1 billion."

The failure itself is hard to see coming. InterNACHI explains that certain water disinfectants can react with the plastic and cause it to "flake apart at any location within the PB piping system," and that deterioration "happens from within." A leak "can happen without warning," and pipe behind drywall "can leak unnoticed for long periods of time and cause mold and water damage."

A pipe with that history is a water damage risk, and insurers price water damage risk in. Our page on whether you should replace polybutylene pipes covers the failure in more detail.

Each insurer sets its own rules, so the answer changes from company to company. Common responses include:

• Writing the policy normally. Some insurers don't treat polybutylene differently, especially if the system has no leak history.
• Charging a higher premium. The pipe is a known risk, and price is one way to cover it.
• Declining to write the home. Some insurers won't take a new home with polybutylene at all.
• Asking for a repipe or proof of replacement. Some ask for the pipe to be replaced, or for a plumber's letter showing it's gone, as a condition of coverage.
• Limiting water damage coverage. Some policies may carry exclusions or lower limits for water damage. Read the policy, not just the quote.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) notes that age alone can change what's on offer: "Older homes may not qualify for preferred programs," and "Insurers may require older homes to have updated heating, plumbing, wiring and roofing." A house with its original 1980s polybutylene fits that description.

### What does Arizona law say?

Arizona limits how an insurer can drop a homeowners policy once it's in place, but condition of the home still matters. Under A.R.S. 20-1652, after a policy has been in effect for sixty days, a cancellation has to rest on specific grounds. One of them is "Failure of the insured to take reasonable steps to eliminate or reduce any conditions in or on the insured premises that contributed to a loss in the past or will increase the probability of future losses."

For renewals, the same law gives you time to fix a problem. It says that if nonrenewal "is based on the condition of the premises, the insured shall be given thirty days' notice to remedy the identified conditions," with "an additional thirty days" if the fix isn't finished. The law also says an insurer "may decline or terminate insurance coverage based on the condition of the premises as determined through a physical inspection of the premises."

In practice, that means a leak-prone plumbing system can come up at application or renewal, and Arizona law gives you a window to act. It doesn't guarantee any insurer will write the policy.

Start before you need it, especially if you're buying.

### Tell the truth on the application

If the insurer asks what the supply pipe is made of, answer accurately. A.R.S. 20-1652 lists "material misrepresentation in obtaining the policy" among the grounds for cancellation. A policy that can be canceled over a wrong answer isn't much protection.

### Shop several insurers

The NAIC says you're "not required to purchase insurance from the company your lender recommends," and lists your state insurance department among the unbiased sources for comparing prices. An independent agent who works with several companies can help too, since one company may decline a house another will write.

### Ask a coverage question, not a claim

Arizona law protects you when you call to ask. A.R.S. 20-1652 says an insurer "shall not consider as a claim any inquiry by an insured into whether a policy will cover a loss or about the type or level of coverage." So you can ask how an insurer treats polybutylene without that call counting against you.

### Get quotes both ways

Ask each insurer for a price as the house stands and a price with the polybutylene replaced. The gap between the two, along with any condition the insurer attaches, tells you what the pipe is really costing you. Our guides to whole-house repipe options and how long a repipe takes help you plan the second number.

Maybe, for the damage, depending on the policy and what happened. The NAIC says homeowners policies cover damage from a "sudden and accidental" discharge from a plumbing system. The Insurance Information Institute lists "Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from within a plumbing" system among the perils in standard policies.

But the same sources draw a line at upkeep. The Insurance Information Institute says: "Your insurance policy will not cover damage due to lack of maintenance, mold or infestation from termites or other pests." The NAIC makes a similar point about frozen pipes: "If your insurance company determines you neglected your plumbing system by not taking preventative measures to avoid freezing, the damage from a burst pipe may not be covered." Freezing is rare in the Valley. But the same logic applies to upkeep in general. A slow leak from a known bad pipe can land on the wrong side of that line.

So even with a policy in hand, a polybutylene system is a gamble. Our guides to whether insurance covers plumbing repairs and filing a water damage claim explain how claims get judged.

InterNACHI lists the signs. Polybutylene pipe is:

• usually stamped "PB2110"
• flexible and sometimes curved, unlike copper
• most commonly grey, though it can also be white, silver, black or blue
• ½" to 1" in diameter
• not used for drain or vent pipes, only water supply

Look where pipes come out of the wall under sinks and behind toilets, near the water heater, at the water meter and at the main shutoff. InterNACHI notes some copper systems used polybutylene "at junctures," so check the whole run. If you're not sure, it says "a licensed plumber can be contacted to determine whether or not a pipe is made from PB." Home inspectors aren't required to note it, so don't assume a clean report means you don't have it. Our page on what a plumbing inspection covers when buying explains what inspectors look at.

### Buying a house with polybutylene?

Get insurance quotes early in escrow, before your inspection period ends. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says lenders "generally require proof that you have homeowner's insurance," so a house you can't insure can hold up the loan. Our guide to getting a mortgage on a house with polybutylene pipes covers the lender side, and our page on whether old plumbing raises insurance rates covers other older materials.

### What's the long-term fix?

Replacing the pipe. InterNACHI says "no regulations require the replacement of polybutylene piping," but it believes it's "far cheaper to replace polybutylene pipes before they fail." It also notes the pipe "can also reduce a home's value or prolong its time on the market." Once the pipe is gone, keep the invoice and permit record, since that's what an insurer or a future buyer will ask to see. Our guide to questions to ask before hiring someone to repipe a house helps you compare bids.

HQ Plumbing & Air identifies polybutylene and replaces it with modern supply pipe across the Phoenix area. We're licensed and insured, available 24/7 for leaks, and every repipe starts with a free estimate and upfront pricing. See our residential plumbing services.

A house with polybutylene can usually be insured. A house without it is easier to insure and easier to sell.