Kitec Plumbing – Risks & Problems
Kitec Plumbing – Risks & Problems
What is Kitec Plumbing?
Kitec is a brand of plastic piping manufactured by IPEX between 1995 and 2007. During that time plumbers used the plastic piping as a good substitute to copper, because it offered great flexibility and durability at a much lower cost.
However, after some years of use by plumbing contractors and new home builders, the piping started showing many problems. The most common plumbing issues are associated with the fact that Kitec doesn’t perform well under high pressure and/or under high temperature. Under high pressure and high temperature, it starts to deteriorate fast, leading to pipe breaking and bursting. In addition, its brass fittings tend to corrode when exposed to moister and oxygen. This problem also leads to leaks, as the zinc oxidation in the pipes causes limited water flow. With so many problems Kitec piping caused not only leakages, but also major flooding in multiple homes throughout the country.
Do you have Kitec Plumbing in your house?
In order to find out you should first look under your kitchen sink or bathroom vanities, where your pipes and fittings are visible. Another good place to look for these pipes would be around your water heater, as pipes are clearly visible outside the walls. Kitec pipes are usually blue in color for cold water lines and orange for hot water lines. In addition, pipes could also have one of the following names: KERR Controls, WarmRite, IPEX AQUA, AmbioConfort, XPA or Plomberie Amelioree.
Did you know about the Class Action Suit?
Over time Kitec caused multiple cases of premature pipe failures of plumbing systems. Therefore, a Class Action Suit was settled for $125,000,000 in November of 2011. Some of the big cities/states affected are Las Vegas- Nevada, and particularly Sun City Anthem, Sacramento -California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas. All homeowners included in the lawsuit can use the money to replace the defective plumbing and correct all problems. The last date to file a claim with the settlement fund is January 9th, 2020.
Recommendations
In conclusion, if you suspect that your home has Kitec pipes, it is wise to consult with a licensed plumbing contractor about repipe services. If you have experienced signs such as increased drop in water pressure and visible discoloration and corrosion of pipes and fittings, please call our repipe experts at Advanced Pipe Restoration & Repipe. We offer free in-home repipe consultations! Servicing California & Nevada, including Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas & all surrounding areas. Call us today at (888) 445-8720 or visit us online at Advancedrepipe.com.