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Polybutylene Pipe Replacement Cost Calculator (2026)
Polybutylene is almost always replaced with a whole-house repipe. Pick your bathrooms and pipe material to see a 2026 price.
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| Repipe supply lines in PEX | $7,200 |
| Patch and paint wall openings | $2,400 |
| Permit and inspection | $400 |
Installed prices including labor and materials. Your quotes can differ with site conditions.
Have a quote? Check your repipe price →
Polybutylene replacement cost by house
PEX, one story, with drywall patching and permit.
| House | Crawl space or basement | Slab | With PB main line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bath (~8 fixtures) | $4,150 – $10,800 | $4,650 – $11,900 | $5,650 – $15,800 |
| 2 baths (~12 fixtures) | $6,150 – $15,800 | $6,850 – $17,400 | $7,650 – $20,800 |
| 3 baths (~17 fixtures) | $8,650 – $22,100 | $9,650 – $24,300 | $10,200 – $27,100 |
How to identify polybutylene pipe
- Age: installed in homes built or replumbed from about 1978 to 1995.
- Color: usually gray, sometimes blue (often outdoor main lines) or black.
- Markings: "PB2110" or "PB" printed on the pipe.
- Fittings: plastic or copper crimp rings at joints, often the first place it fails.
- Where to look: at the water heater, under sinks, near the main shutoff, and where the main line enters the house.
Replace it all, not in pieces
Because polybutylene degrades throughout the house, patching one leak rarely solves the problem. Insurers and buyers also want to know it is fully gone. A whole-house repipe with PEX is the standard fix and usually takes 2–5 days. See the repipe cost guide for PEX vs. copper details.
Selling or buying? Get repipe quotes before listing or before your inspection contingency ends. The quote gives you a concrete number to negotiate with, and the repair often pays for itself in a smoother sale.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace polybutylene pipes?
Replacing polybutylene with PEX in a typical 2-bathroom house costs about $6,150 – $15,800 including drywall patching and a permit. Slab homes cost more, and replacing a polybutylene main line from the meter adds several thousand dollars.
Why is polybutylene pipe a problem?
Polybutylene reacts with chlorine and other oxidants in public water, which makes it brittle from the inside. It can fail suddenly, with no warning, often at fittings. Failures were common enough to lead to a large class-action settlement in the 1990s.
How do I know if I have polybutylene pipe?
Polybutylene was installed from about 1978 to 1995. It is usually gray, sometimes blue or black, flexible plastic, often stamped "PB2110". Look where pipes enter the water heater, under sinks, and at the main shutoff. Gray pipe in a house built in that period is a strong clue.
Will insurance cover a house with polybutylene pipes?
Many insurers refuse to write new policies, charge more, or exclude water damage for homes with polybutylene. That often makes replacement necessary to buy, sell, or refinance a house.
Is there still money from the polybutylene settlement?
No. The Cox v. Shell settlement fund closed to new claims years ago. Replacement costs today are the homeowner’s responsibility.