
Why are so many homes having problems with PEX pipe brass fittings?PEX piping is a very common type of pipe used in Charlotte and across the nation. Why the popularity? PEX pipes are crafted from a flexible material called crosslinked polyethylene, and this material holds up better than most metal pipes or rigid plastic pipes, such as PVC pipes. PEX pipes came into popularity in the United States in the 1980s and since that time, problems have come to light. The problem we are going to explore today is one many current homeowners are facing: problems with PEX pipes with brass fittings.PEX Versus Dura PEX – What’s the Difference?
First things first. Most PEX pipes are reliable pipes. However, one brand in particular has routinely failed – Dura PEX piping, manufactured by CPI (bought out by NIBCO). Dura Pex (by CPI) is prone to cracking and probably has already caused you a lot of headaches (and bills for pipe fixes). If you have Dura Pex, you may still be able to get in on the class action suit that has been filed against NIBCO CPI Dura Pex. Check out information on repiping services for homes and businesses using Dura PEX pipes.
Other brands of PEX pipes have endured pretty well—except when you take fittings into account. That’s the problem we are going to discuss today.
Why are the Fittings a Problem?
PEX pipes, while reliable and flexible, have a problem: they need to connect to existing pipes. Fittings connect each segment of PEX piping to plumbing made of other materials. These fittings are typically made out of yellow brass. The following are common fittings we encounter:
- Corner sections
- Valves
- Connectors
- Clamps
- Crimp rings
When Fittings Don’t Hold Up
Here’s the problem, those fittings—whether we’re talking about a connector or a corner section—needs to work properly or the plumbing comes apart. When a fitting corrodes, problems ranging from minor leaks to devastating floods occur. And as of late, defective PEX fittings have been identified as homeowners and businesses across the country have been affected by large-scale water leaks caused by corroded PEX fittings.
What constitutes a “defective” PEX fitting? Any fitting that leaks, prematurely degrades or suffers premature corrosion is considered “defective.”
As a result, class action lawsuits are under way. One class action lawsuit against Zurn, a fitting manufacturer, is something to consider if you have fittings that are labeled “Zurn F1807 Fittings.” If you need to have your pipes or fittings replaced, ask your plumber to see if they have this label and if you could be considered for this lawsuit.
The Problem: Bad Brass
The reason these fittings are defective fittings has been determined: they were crafted using poor quality yellow brass — UNS C3600 and C37700 brass alloy. This type of yellow brass contains a lot of zinc, and that high zinc content causes problems.
There are two problems that come from high zinc content in brass fittings.
One, when water flows through the high zinc brass fittings, the zinc in the fittings leaches out of the fittings. This leaching weakens the fittings due to a process called dezincification. Basically, this means the fittings corrode and fall apart, which causes major problems with your plumbing, much of which occurs unseen inside walls or underground. By the time you know the corrosion has occurred, you’re dealing with a costly leak or water main break.
Two, the leaching of zinc causes a white residue to build up inside the pipes, constricting water flow. Think of how plaque builds up inside your arteries, causing high blood pressure and eventually a heart attack. Zinc build-up can cause your fixtures to clog up. This problem is a lot less concerning that the degradation of fittings and the consequential breakage, but it is still notable.
A Growing Challenge
Defective PEX fittings were first introduced in the 1990s, but the problems are really just now coming to light. These pipes with these defective fittings were widely used, meaning they are now in homes, condos, businesses, offices, clubhouses, apartment buildings… everywhere.
How Do I Know If I’ve Been Affected?
Defective PEX fittings can cause extensive damage to your plumbing, necessitating expensive plumbing repairs if the issues aren’t identified and replaced before your pipes completely fail. First of all, you should have a plumber check your home or business to see if you have PEX pipes or not.
If your home or business has PEX pipes, keep an eye out for the following signs:
- Leaks, or signs of leaks
- Drain clogs
- Leaky faucets
- Running toilets
- Low water pressure
- Signs of corrosion
If any of your fittings are visible, check them for corrosion.
Specific Problems Related to Specific Types of PEX Pipes
If you have a plumber out and you can find out exactly that type of PEX pipes you have in your home or business, you will be ahead of the game. The following are commonly found problems associated with specific types of PEX pipes:
- PEX-A (Uponor/Wirsbo and Rehau): dezincification of fittings and chemical leaching/odor (AquaPEX only)
- PEX-B (Zurn & Viega): dezincification of fittings
- PEX-C (Nibco/CPI/DuraPEX): cracked, leaking pipes
- PEX-AL-PEX (Kitec/IPEX): dezincification of fittings
What Can You Do?
If you have PEX pipes with problematic fittings, you can hire a plumber to switch you over to DZR (DeZincification Resistant) brass or poly PEX fittings, both of which are not susceptible to corrosion.
A secondary cause of the problem is related to water quality. In particular, over-chlorinated water is a primary cause of leaching of chemicals from PEX pipes. PEX pipes have been determined to be best suited for low- and non-chlorinated plumbing systems.
To this end, you can also:
- Get your water tested. You water pH should be at or above 6.5 and your water chlorine concentration should be at or below 4.0 ppm (parts per million).
- Install a whole house water filtration system that removes chlorine, chlorine by-products, and helps with pH.
If you have noticed an unpleasant odor to your water, this also may be related to PEX pipes. PEX, being a type of plastic, may absorb odors. If improperly stored or installed next to a source of odor, PEX may transfer it (albeit, in small amounts) to water, resulting in unpleasant smell or aftertaste.People living near industrial activities (drilling, manufacturing) have reported gasoline-like or an unpleasant chemical odor and/or taste in their water. These odor and taste issues are not caused by PEX pipes, but can be perpetuated by PEX pipes. A whole house water filtration system will fix that problem.
Need a Charlotte Plumber to Help With PEX Pipe Problems?
Give us a call and we’ll review the situation with you to determine what action is most cost-effective and proactive. We look forward to working with you!
Article Summary
Quick question & answer: What can be done about PEX pipes problems?
If you have PEX pipes with problematic fittings, you can ask a plumber to help you switch to a fitting that is not susceptible to corrosion. In addition, you can test your water quality to see if your pH is greater than or equal to 6.5. Over-chlorinated water can cause leaching of chemicals from PEX pipes.
Is the Pex Pipe lawsuit still active?
The Pex Pipe lawsuit was settled in 2018. On October 26th, 2018, the NIBCO PEX Settlement Administrator and Plaintiffs’ law firms announced a class action settlement involving allegedly defective PEX tubing, fittings and clamps. Per the settlement website: “You may be entitled to benefits from a class action settlement if: (a) you have owned or occupied at any time since January 1, 2005, a residential or commercial structure in the United States that contains or contained NIBCO’s Pex Tubing, Fittings or Clamps and have unreimbursed costs or damages resulting from water leaking from one of these products, or (b) you have repaired or paid to repair damage resulting from water leaking from one of these products in one of these structures.”