Polybutylene piping is very difficult to repair because polybutylene plumbing pipe or the quest fittings used to connect it are no longer commonly manufactured or sold. Then, the standard solution to problems is to repair damaged sections of polybutylene by transitioning to another type of pipe or even replacing the entire system.
There are a few options when choosing what type of fitting to use for transitioning from polybutylene. Polybutylene tubing has the same outside diameter as PEX, CPVC, and copper pipe, so using a push-fit fitting is an option you can use. Another is to use specific transition fittings designed to transition between two different materials.
When you find a small leak in a straight length of pipe under the house or in other accessible places, push-on fittings can be used for quick repairs. Simply cut out the pinhole area and push on the repair coupling. Be sure to measure so you don’t cut more pipe than necessary.
For accessible areas, push-fit fittings, often sold under brand names such as Sharkbite or John Guest, are the easiest way to repair.
For inaccessible repairs, the best option is to use a transition coupling designed specifically to transition from polybutylene to PEX pipe. The PB to PEX transition coupling is made of brass, and it compensates for the difference in the inside diameter of polybutylene pipe and PEX.
This transition coupling also has two separate crimp rings, one used specifically to secure transition fittings to polybutylene pipe and the other to secure transitions to PEX.
A polybutylene pipe or polybutylene joint that is leaking inside a wall should be repaired by replacing the bad section with a non-polybutylene pipe. The best solution is to use a transition coupling to convert that section to PEX. You can transition near the leak, but if possible, follow the length of the pipe and replace as much pipe as you can reach.
For more information about polypropylene pipe: https://plumbingadvice24.com/polybutylene-pipe-problems-and-their-solution-complete-guide/
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