Hi there,

After a bit of advice on the following please.

So basically my parents home has Polybutylene pipe for Hot & Cold mains all through walls and roof of their home and over the twenty + years they have owned it they have been repairing join after join with our local plumbers and they always say "can't guarantee how long that will last". So over the last few days i've been having a look using my sparky wall camera and moisture meter etc where the pipes run down and they have had slow leaks in every single wall that the water pipes run down, some worse than others such as the wall I literally pushed my hand through and pulled the entire sheet of jib off its nails.

So I have gone research mad and am after the final key piece of advice so we can get this done quickly for them. Basically I have found that the newer Polybutylene pipe that conforms to the AS/NZS 2642.2:1994 standard should be fine? There is a section in their roof that was replaced by a piece that has this number printed on it and they haven't had any problems with that bit since they did it 10years ago or so.

Today I wen't looking at all the pipe in the roof to find labels/markings to see if it was Dux Quest as the local plumber asked and discovered only the piece that was replaced has any markings, all the rest original stuff is blank, no printing on it anywhere!

Googled around and found this part of info on masterplumbers.co.nz "Polypropylene pipe and fittings are increasingly used where rigid pipe is appropriate. You can check the markings on the pipe to see what the material is and to what standard it has been manufactured. If there’s no information, stay clear!"

Now my Dad and I have to complete this project, due to lack of funds and unable to pay other quotes we have been given plus Gib, insulation, paint etc. So we are asking for a super quick recommendation on this.

We have discovered the following company:

http://www.nzpipe.co.nz/ - They have a range of pipe and all the fittings we would ever need. Have you ever used any of these or seen them about? If so good bad or ugly?

I have the following extra info from the owner:

• It has AS/NZS 2642.2 written on the pipe
• No leaking at all since we have been selling them. We only use this push type fittings in my home country( South Korea). If you connect fittings on the pipe properly, then there is no leaking problems at all.
• Pipe and Joiners guaranteed for 25 years

Please can we have your honest opinions about this situation and our current plan forward?

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/ask-plumbers-public/2/polybutylene-piping/1519/

Mrs Womble here - My hubby had a customer who had purchased this product and wanted someone to install it. There are 6 local plumbers and none would install it as they all felt that there would be problems which could cost them financially and if there were complaints to the GDB then their license could be taken from them.   These people had to purchase regular productfrom a reputable dealer

Hi, have you had a look at www.pwsinterntional.com?
They have cheaper pipe and fittings than any other system in NZ and carry a 30 year guarantee on all their pipe and fittings.
Also, all their brassware is NZ made!

I'd be very keen to hear from anyone who uses it. The company sells direct to plumbers, cutting out the merchant, and the product is HALF the price of bute. I received info about it on Monday and have been waiting with baited breath for the comments.  Someone must buy it. Just as they must buy the PVC that's about 1/3 of the price the merchants sell it for.

Get pipe that is "water marked" with the water mark logo. is a safe bet.

I agree with Enn 100% - why would you want to buy a product, no matter how cheap it is - unless you have 100% guarantee that it will be backed up by the supplier.  Cheap is cheap for a reason?  No merchant - then how big is the supplier - and if it all goes to shit, will he shoot the gap and leave you holding the liability.  And why do we want to do cheap, cheap, cheap?  Surely quality should be our benchmark?  What do you think about the plumber that advertises - only $XXXX per hour (way under your hourly rate) - I know I always think - how the hell can they do that?  But then I have seen how - they charge a cheap hourly rate, but have things like On site Charge for the first hour (say an additional $35), they charge for all sorts of tools instead of throwing them in as part of your kit that comes with your for $XXXX

Mate, I would be very careful not to be seduced by cheap unless you are satisfied that you have done due diligence.  I know that from time to time we bag merchants, but these guys will be there tomorrow, next week, next month and next year, and next decade.  That is called peace of mind.  For you AND for your customer.