What is Kitec Plumbing?
Kitec is a brand of plastic plumbing supply lines with brass fittings (with the letters KITEC or KTC stamped on the fitting) used between around 1995 and 2007.
The system was recalled in 2005 due to corrosion issues of the brass fittings.
This type of plumbing is often characterized by Blue and Orange pipes and sold under the the names “”IPEX Aqua”, “IPEX Homerite”, and under the more generic name “PEX-Al-PEX”, and others.
The problem is that the fittings were manufactured with a high level of zinc. As the zinc leached from the fittings, a powdery build-up formed which then weakened the fitting.
In some cases, the pipe can leak or burst causing damage to the home. Some estimates suggest repair/replacement costs in the order of $6,000 to $8,000.
So how to tell if your plumbing lines are Kitec?
There may be a number of clues to determine if your home is plumbed with KITEC lines, however there is no substitute for an assessment by a licensed plumber:
- In some cases, a notice may be found on the electrical panel stating that Kitec was used in the home and that the electrical system should not be grounded to it.
- Look for the series of orange and blue pipes (although other colours were also used) in visible areas of the home (near the water heater or under sinks are good places to look)
- Look for the letters KITEC or KTC stamped on the brass fittings.
- The plumbing lines may be labelled with the word Kitec.
We are unable to determine how much of an issue this is in Canada or this Region, however some estimates suggest that 60,000 + homeowners in the US Southwest could be affected.
What can you do?
If you suspect that you have Kitec plumbing in your home:
- Consult with a licensed plumber to confirm
- Review the class action website to determine your next steps. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice certified a Canadian National Class Action Suit against IPEX for this type of plumbing system and a Settlement Agreement became effective on January 9, 2012.
The Claims Administrator has begun the procedure of processing and paying claims and homeowners must file Claim Form prior to deadline of January 9, 2020. If a homeowner believes they are part of this action, they can obtain more information at Kitec Settlement >> http://www.KitecSettlement.com
Should you see KITEC Plumbing in a home, please leave a comment below with the general location of the neighbourhood and city.
A buyer who backs out of a sale for the sole reason that Kitec lines are used for the plumbing is just being a “Chicken Little” as far as I’m concerned. Are re-sales of existing homes going to go into the toilet now that the sky is apparently falling due to the use of Kitec as a plumbing system?
Fact is that most new home construction since the late 1990′s has utilized Ipex, Pex, or Kitec (or whatever you want to call it). I wonder what the actual failure rates of Kitec plumbing systems are as compared to copper plumbing that isn’t installed properly. Are we all supposed to buy into the concept that Ipex systems are bound to fail and that we should all spend thousands and thousands of dollars to replace systems that, in many cases, have been operating 100% trouble free for 10-15 years or better? Or be intimidated into accepting less than fair market value for a house because of the plumbing that was installed?
Best,
ZZ
[...] polyethylene, commonly abbreviated PEX or XLPE, is a form of polyethylene with cross-links. It is formed into tubing, and is used [...]
We have Ipex Pex-Al in our home, built in 1999. We listed our home for sale and in Sept 2011 after receiving an offer, the home inspector idendified we had Ipex Pex-Al. We had no idea this type of hot water heating system was in a law suit. The buyers wanted all the piping replaced, however, the system is working fine. We lost the sale.
My question to you is what should one write in the agreement for sale with a buyer knowing about this? How are realtors dealing with this? Our realtor had never run into this problem.
Thanks
My recommendation would be for you to have a quote from a licensed plumber / contractor to have the system replaced and any walls or ceilings repaired. You would then fully disclose to buyers that KITEC exists in the home, you have a quote to have it replaced and that your listing price has been reduced to reflect this cost to the buyer. You can also suggest that they may be able to make a claim under the provisions of the class action lawsuit.
Your Realtor and lawyer can help you craft the proper language in the listing and agreement.