KITEC Plumbing - Is it lurking in your home?

Was your home built between 1995 and 2007? If so, you need to check today to see if you have KITEC plumbing!

KITEC was the most commonly used plumbing material used in this time period and many houses in Oxford County have this plumbing. It was manufactured by IPEX Inc.. This plumbing is usually either bright orange for hot water or bright blue for cold. It will have a code printed on it saying ASTM1281. It will usually have a brand name as well. These names are KITEC, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA, WarmRite, KITEX XPA, AmbrioComfort, XPA, KERR Controls or Plomberie Améliorée.

If your house has an unfinished basement, it should be easy to see. If your basement is finished, the best places to check are the feeds to you water heater or connections to sinks.

The problem with KITEC

KITEC was recalled in 2005, although some plumbers continued to use up what they had as late as 2007, due to failure of pipes and fittings and has been installed in hundreds of thousands of homes across Canada. Despite layers of protective plastic and resin, the aluminum layer of the actual pipe as well as the brass fittings that join lengths of pipe together have a tendency to corrode quickly. as well, the fittings contain a high level of zinc which reacts with the chemical makeup of the actual KITEC pipe. The buildup from this chemical reaction can restrict the flow of water. On top of all that, the pipe expands and contracts from temperature changes, weakening over time until the pipe bursts. All of this is a recipe for disaster!

This has caused millions of dollars of damage to homes. Homeowners not only have to pay to replace all the KITEC in their homes after a failure, but also can be left with extensive water damage , structural deficiencies, electrical problems and black mold. Often these leaks start small and can go undetected for long periods of time causing more and more damage the entire time.

It makes sense to replace KITEC as soon as you are able to because of all the known problems and risk. The problem only intensifies when you try to sell your home. We have been part of deals where the seller had to replace all the plumbing in their home before close as part of the conditions. We have also seen deals where the buyer walks away because of a home inspection when KITEC is found.

The cost to replace KITEC can vary widely based on the size and style of your home. A small bungalow with an unfinished basement will be much cheaper than a large two storey home with a finished basement. Local plumbers will be able to give an accurate estimate.

Insurance can be another problem. Some companies will insure KITEC. Some will not. And if you are with one of the companies that do not and you have a catastrophic leak, the repair costs may be coming out of your pocket. As far as the companies that do insure KITEC, some only insure it if you have made them aware that it exists. If you haven’t, again, you may not be insured in the case of a KITEC leak.

What should I do if I think I have KITEC?

If you suspect that you have KITEC plumbing in your home your first step should be to have a local plumber in to verify. You can then deal with the insurance question and possible removal once you have gathered all the facts.