Water pipe leaks - early 80s plastic $$$$

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Gemini

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#270156 26-Apr-2020 07:51

We had water pipe leaks at (different) joins on two occassions over the last few years
Plumber who fixed the most recent leak reckons we should replace everything!
He said something about first generation plastic piping from the late 70s/early 80s??
This is major work in terms of cost and the number of holes needed in walls and ceilings.
Anyone have some stories to share on this...

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#2471361 26-Apr-2020 08:07

I assume they mean dux quest, spend the money and get it all replaced now. We've had this before, your insurance likely won't cover it, and if it's located on a building inspection as part of a property sale you'll likely get lower offers.

nickb800

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#2471368 26-Apr-2020 08:32

What colour is the old piping - black or grey?

Gemini

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#2471377 26-Apr-2020 08:54

It's grey with some unreadable blue writing so hoping that means it's not dux quest?
House was built in 84
The same section had two failures. First at a T joint which a plumber fixed at arms length through a small hole in the ground floor ceiling. Second was at a pipe join 500mm further up. Both were misting leaks that accumulated then drppled out through a light socket/gib join

nickb800

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#2471379 26-Apr-2020 09:05

Yeah I think black is dux qest - that's the worst. Early grey polybuteline isn't as bad but does have known issues. You're coming up 40 years so probably due

Bung

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#2471380 26-Apr-2020 09:06

The worst part of the Dux Qest (trademark had no U) system was the fittings. Maybe some of those got used.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2471384 26-Apr-2020 09:28

Had lots of experience with the stuff...

The first time, we woke up one morning with a bulging ceiling due to a failed join the roof. Damage limited by cutting a hole and draining the water before the roof collapsed. This was probably 20 years ago.
Leaks under the hot water cylinder (replaced twice, in one case having to rip open a wall to repair a failed join).
Leaks in joins found while renovating the bathroom/laundry. Replaced with copper as we were tiling.
Leak in a wall to another bathroom, replaced with modern black material.
Leak to the third bathroom resulted in us disconnecting and re-routing pipes to avoid having to rip yet another hole in the wall. Likely a failed joint, but we couldn't get in to see that one.
Leak behind the kitchen sink... only a few months back. Another failed joint.

Fun times.

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mentalinc

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#2471385 26-Apr-2020 09:29

Anyone have any rough idea what it costs to replace for a standard three bedroom with easy underfloor access?

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Gemini

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#2471398 26-Apr-2020 09:56

SirHumphreyAppleby:
Had lots of experience with the stuff...

The first time, we woke up one morning with a bulging ceiling due to a failed join the roof. Damage limited by cutting a hole and draining the water before the roof collapsed. This was probably 20 years ago.
Leaks under the hot water cylinder (replaced twice, in one case having to rip open a wall to repair a failed join).
Leaks in joins found while renovating the bathroom/laundry. Replaced with copper as we were tiling.
Leak in a wall to another bathroom, replaced with modern black material.
Leak to the third bathroom resulted in us disconnecting and re-routing pipes to avoid having to rip yet another hole in the wall. Likely a failed joint, but we couldn't get in to see that one.
Leak behind the kitchen sink... only a few months back. Another failed joint.

Fun times.

That's not good
I hate the repairs required after cutting holes in walls and ceilings too
Sounds like you went for the "fix it as it fails" approach over the "replace everything" option?

bagheera

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#2471407 26-Apr-2020 10:20

Gemini: Plumber who fixed the most recent leak reckons we should replace everything!

The other thing to remember, if the insurance hears this, and you do nothing and a major leak happens, they will not pay out as you did not do the maintenance that you have now been told that needs doing.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2471409 26-Apr-2020 10:27

Gemini:
That's not good
I hate the repairs required after cutting holes in walls and ceilings too
Sounds like you went for the "fix it as it fails" approach over the "replace everything" option?

Where it has been practical during other renovations, we've replaced even if there has been no indication of a problem.

The pipes themselves have not been a point of failure, only the joins. The joins have been replaced where accessible and are being replaced as needed behind cabinets etc, where access would be destructive.

Replacing everything doesn't seem necessary, nor has this been advised. We did add a pressure valve as recommended however.

Gemini

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#2471410 26-Apr-2020 10:28

bagheera:
Gemini: Plumber who fixed the most recent leak reckons we should replace everything!

The other thing to remember, if the insurance hears this, and you do nothing and a major leak happens, they will not pay out as you did not do the maintenance that you have now been told that needs doing.

Are you suggesting they would pay out on a major leak caused by 36 year old polybuteline plumbing?
They may already have a position on covering this product regardless of what my plumber thinks

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OldGeek

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#2471411 26-Apr-2020 10:31

Check this out: https://www.nzhousesurveys.co.nz/Events/19/Buyer-Beware:-Dux-Qest-Plumbing-

To the OP - it looks like yours is different. Get at least 2 plumbers in to assess and advise (at no cost).

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2471413 26-Apr-2020 10:33

OldGeek:

Check this out: https://www.nzhousesurveys.co.nz/Events/19/Buyer-Beware:-Dux-Qest-Plumbing-

To the OP - it looks like yours is different. Get at least 2 plumbers in to assess and advise (at no cost).

Just for clarification, this is not the product installed in our home. It sounds like Dux Quest fails in a more catastrophic way than the grey stuff which only seems to fail at the joins. I expect the plumber would have recommended full replacement if the Dux product were installed.

bagheera

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#2471415 26-Apr-2020 10:35

Gemini: Are you suggesting they would pay out on a major leak caused by 36 year old polybuteline plumbing?

Maybe, depends on if there any history problem and if they can pull "no maintenance so your problem card or not" have seen them payout for this on a major leak before, as always, it a case by case assessment on if you could have seen this going to happen and if you could have done something about it. Now that you know that something needs doing, you would need to lie to your insurance if something happens or have other reports saying nah - he got it wrong.

Gemini

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#2471420 26-Apr-2020 10:48

bagheera:
Gemini: Are you suggesting they would pay out on a major leak caused by 36 year old polybuteline plumbing?

Maybe, depends on if there any history problem and if they can pull "no maintenance so your problem card or not" have seen them payout for this on a major leak before, as always, it a case by case assessment on if you could have seen this going to happen and if you could have done something about it. Now that you know that something needs doing, you would need to lie to your insurance if something happens or have other reports saying nah - he got it wrong.

To clarify the plumber was recommending preventative maintenance. He looked at one section only. No one has looked at the full (visible) pipe network except me.

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