Is Poly-B Plumbing Putting Your Home and Insurance at Risk?
Replace brittle polybutylene pipes with modern, reliable PEX pipe. We handle full-home pipe replacement cleanly, quickly, and with full insurance compliance sign-offs.
The "Ticking Time Bomb" Behind Your Drywall
If your home was built between the late 1970s and late 1990s, there’s a strong chance your plumbing system is run with Polybutylene (Poly-B) piping.
Poly-B deteriorates from the inside out due to municipal water treatment and heat. You won’t know it’s failing until it bursts inside a wall or ceiling.
Why Homeowners Are Replacing Poly-B Now:
Insurance Nightmares: Major insurance providers are now refusing coverage, denying water damage claims, or doubling deductibles on homes with Poly-B plumbing.
Catastrophic Leaks: Poly-B pipe becomes brittle and cracks without warning, leading to tens of thousands of dollars in water and mold damage.
Resale Roadblocks: Savvy home buyers and home inspectors flag Poly-B immediately, stalling sales or forcing massive price reductions.
A Clean, Turnkey Repipe with Minimal Disruption to Your Daily Life
You don't have to tear your whole house down to replace your plumbing. At BoschCo Mechanical, we specialize in non-invasive, surgical Poly-B replacements using commercial-grade PEX-A piping.
Surgical Drywall Cuts: We map your lines precisely so drywall cuts are kept to an absolute minimum.
Full-System Upgrade: Complete replacement of supply lines, shut-off valves, and fixture connections.
Insurance Certification Letter: Once the job passes pressure testing, we provide an official completion certificate to hand directly to your insurance broker or prospective buyers.
Zero Guesswork Pricing: Upfront, fixed-scope estimates with no surprise line items.
Step 1: On-Site Assessment & Scope
We inspect your existing layout, verify the pipe runs, and provide a clear, line-item quote with zero pressure.Step 2: Clean, Fast Repiping
Our certified technicians replace the failing lines with top-tier PEX. We protect your floors, isolate dust, and ensure your water is turned back on at the end of each working day.Step 3: Pressure Testing & Sign-Off
We pressure-test the entire system, clean up thoroughly, and issue your official insurance-ready compliance paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For an average single-family home, a complete replacement typically takes 5-10 business days, depending on the size of the home, levels and access.
We know having work done inside your home is distrubtive, which is why we run a clean, structured process: your water is always back on and fullyfunctional at the end of each day. From day one through final cleanup and wall repair, our goal is to leave your home running reliably with no mess left behind - like we were never there.
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In many cases, yes—and more importantly, it can protect you from denied claims or dropped coverage.
Many insurers view aging Poly-B plumbing as an active risk. Depending on your provider, replacing your Poly-B with modern, approved PEX piping can:
Lower your premiums: Remove surcharges or high-risk penalties applied to older piping.
Reduce your deductible: Eliminate high water-damage deductibles (often $2,500 to $10,000+ on homes with Poly-B).
Protect full coverage: Restore standard water-damage protection that some policies restrict or exclude.
Keep your home insurable: Ensure you can renew your policy or pass buyer inspection when selling.
What to do next: Every insurer has specific guidelines. Contact your provider or broker to ask how a professionally certified repipe will impact your policy. Once our work is complete, Boschco Mechanical provides the detailed completion documentation, permits, and receipts your insurer requires to update your file..
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If your home was built between 1980s and 1990s -particularly from 1985 to 1997 and has never been repiped, there is a very high probability Poly-B is still installed.
Here is how you can check:
Where to look: Check exposed areas—around your hot water tank, in the mechanical room, under kitchen/bathroom sinks, or along unfinished basement ceilings.
Color & Material: Poly-B is a flexible plastic pipe that is almost always matte light grey (not clear, white, red, or blue).
Markings: Inspect the pipe for printed text. Look for codes such as “PB2110” or “CSA-B 137.8.”
The Fittings: Connections are typically made with copper, brass, or dark plastic insert fittings secured with metal crimp rings.
Watch out for "partial repipes": Some homeowners see modern copper or PEX coming up into their sinks and assume the whole house is safe. Often, previous owners only replaced the visible sections after a localized repair, leaving the walls and ceilings full of aging Poly-B.
Not sure what you’re looking at? Snap a clear photo of the pipe and fittings and send it to our team, or ask your Boschco technician to inspect it during your next service visit.
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No. We treat your home with care and use a surgical, minimally invasive approach.
Because new water lines must be routed to every fixture, some wall and ceiling access is required. However, we do not tear down large sections of drywall.
Here is how we minimize the impact on your living space:
Strategic routing: Modern PEX piping is flexible. We "fish" lines through existing wall cavities and floor joists, drastically reducing the number of openings needed.
Hidden access points: Whenever possible, we cut access points inside closets, behind cabinets, or in unfinished utility spaces rather than main living areas.
Clean, repair-ready cuts: When an opening is necessary, we make small, precise, square cuts and keep the drywall plugs so your drywall repair is straightforward, clean, and cost-effective.
Clean jobsite daily: We protect your floors, isolate dust, and leave the workspace clean and tidy at the end of every day.
Tip: During your initial walk-through, we clearly identify where access points are likely to be so there are no surprises before work begins.
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For a typical detached family home in South Calgary or the Foothills built between 1980s and 1990s -particularly from 1985 to 1997, a complete turn-key repipe (including full drywall restoration) typically ranges between $8,500 and $12,500.
Depending on your property size and layout:
Large Homes & Finished Basements (2,200+ sq. ft.): $12,000 – $16,000+
Standard Detached Homes (1,400 – 2,200 sq. ft.): $8,500 – $12,500
Bungalows & Townhomes (1,000 – 1,400 sq. ft.): $6,500 – $9,000
Condos & Small Suites (Under 1,000 sq. ft.): $4,500 – $6,500"
The Boschco Difference: Turn-Key & Zero Surprises Many plumbing contractors quote only the plumbing, leaving you with open holes and an unexpected $3,000–$5,000 drywall repair bill.
Our pricing is fully turn-key and includes:
Complete removal/bypass of Poly-B and new professional PEX piping installation.
Complete drywall patching, taping, and restoration so your home is put back together.
Full permitting, inspection sign-off, and insurance documentation.
Our Fixed-Price Guarantee: The price on your quote is the price on your final invoice. No surprise change orders or hidden fees.
Exact pricing depends on the number of bathrooms, layout complexity, and finished ceiling types (such as knockdown or textured finishes). Contact us to book an on-site assessment for a guaranteed, fixed-price quote.
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Our standard for whole-home repiping is premium, professional-grade PEX-A piping paired with certified lead-free brass fittings—with traditional copper piping available as a custom upgrade.
Here is why we use these systems and how we help you choose the right fit:
Our Standard Choice: Premium PEX-A (PureLink & REHAU RAUPEX)
While PEX-A carries a slightly higher material cost than entry-level, builder-grade plastics, the installation labor is virtually the same. That means you get a dramatically superior, longer-lasting system for only a negligible difference in total project cost.
Freeze & Burst Resistant: Expands if frozen instead of splitting, offering vital protection in severe Alberta winters.
Fewer Wall Openings: Highly flexible, allowing us to route lines cleanly through framing with fewer drywall cuts.
Superior Water Flow: Paired with professional expansion and crimp fittings that preserve optimal water pressure to every tap.
Engineered for Longevity: Far outlasts older Poly-B and budget PEX-B alternatives.
The Custom Option: 100% Copper Piping
For homeowners who are strictly health-conscious and prefer zero plastics in their domestic water supply, we also install complete Type L copper systems.
The Investment: Copper requires significantly higher material and specialized soldering labor costs, making it a larger financial investment.
The Benefit: Proven multi-decade track record, completely synthetic-free water delivery, and naturally antimicrobial properties.
Clear, Upfront Specifications in Every Quote
We don’t use generic allowances or mystery materials. In every Boschco quote, we confirm the exact piping and fitting specifications upfront, explaining why they suit your home layout, mechanical setup, and our local climate.