Hosting an open house can be one of the most effective ways to attract potential buyers and generate interest in your property. By allowing multiple visitors to tour the home at once, sellers often
Podcast Ep. 40: Polybutylene Piping – Do They All Leak?
Dated: September 17 2025
Views: 120
In Episode 40 of The Reality of Real Estate Podcast, Cynthia Hash and Joe Thomas sit down with Thomas Agnew of Streamline Plumbing to dive deep into the truth about polybutylene piping, sometimes referred to as “Quest” piping.
What Is Polybutylene Piping?
Polybutylene is a type of plastic resin used in water supply piping between the late 1970s and mid-1990s. It was marketed as a cheaper alternative to copper piping, but widespread failures led to lawsuits and a tarnished reputation. One of the biggest issues? Leaks at fittings and pipe failures due to chemical reactions with chlorine and water treatment agents.
Do They All Leak?
Thomas Agnew, who has years of plumbing experience in Central Virginia, shares that not every home with polybutylene piping will leak. However, many insurance companies will not write policies on homes with this piping still in place. This creates a real estate challenge—especially when buying or selling older homes.
What Homeowners Need to Know
- Insurance carriers may require repiping before offering coverage.
- Buyers should factor repiping costs into their home purchase negotiations.
- Home inspectors flag polybutylene during routine inspections.
Final Thoughts
While not every home with polybutylene piping is doomed to leak, the stigma and insurance restrictions make it a serious concern in the real estate world. Homeowners considering selling should evaluate whether repiping could improve their property’s value and marketability.
Listen to More Episodes of The Reality of Real Estate Podcast
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All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating
