Selling a House with Polybutylene Plumbing in Florida
Selling a House with Polybutylene Plumbing in Florida
If your Florida home has polybutylene plumbing, you already know the problem: insurance will not cover it, lenders will not finance it, and traditional buyers walk away. Homeinc buys PB-plumbed homes as-is for cash.
What Is Polybutylene Plumbing?
Polybutylene (PB) is a type of gray plastic pipe used in residential plumbing from approximately 1978 to 1995. It was marketed as a cheaper, easier-to-install alternative to copper. Millions of homes across the country and a disproportionate number in Florida were built with PB plumbing during that period.
The problem: polybutylene pipes degrade from the inside out when exposed to oxidants in municipal water like chlorine. Over time, the pipes become brittle, develop micro-fractures, and eventually leak, sometimes catastrophically. A class action lawsuit in the 1990s resulted in billions of dollars in settlements, but that fund is now closed. Homeowners with PB plumbing today are on their own.
Why Florida Homes Are Especially Affected
Florida was one of the hottest construction markets during the PB era. Many homes built between 1980 and 1995 in South Florida, Central Florida, and the Gulf Coast use PB plumbing. Florida hot climate and aggressive water chemistry accelerate the degradation. An estimated 20-30% of Florida homes built in this era still have at least some PB plumbing.
The Insurance and Financing Trap
Major Florida insurers and increasingly Citizens Property Insurance refuse to cover homes with PB plumbing. The reasoning: the failure rate is so high that the risk of a catastrophic claim is unacceptable.
When a home cannot be insured, it cannot be financed through a traditional mortgage. Lenders require proof of homeowner insurance to close. No insurance equals no mortgage equals no traditional buyer.
The result: Florida homeowners with PB plumbing are essentially locked out of the traditional sale market unless they replace the entire plumbing system before selling. Homeinc is the way out.
What a Full Repipe Costs in Florida
- Small home under 1,500 sq ft: $5,000-$8,000
- Average home 1,500-2,500 sq ft: $8,000-$15,000
- Larger home 2,500-3,500 sq ft: $15,000-$25,000
- Two-story homes: Add 30-50% for harder access
- Plus drywall repair and patching: Often $3,000-$8,000 more
Most full repipes require permits, inspections, and 5-10 days of work during which water service is intermittent. Many homeowners cannot afford the upfront cost even though it would unlock the sale.
How Homeinc Buys PB-Plumbed Homes
Homeinc is one of the few buyers in Florida who actively purchase homes with polybutylene plumbing. We do this for a simple reason: we are cash buyers. We do not need a mortgage. We do not need traditional insurance. We are buying the home to renovate, which includes repiping, so PB plumbing is not a deal-breaker for us.
- We buy as-is. No need to repipe before selling.
- We pay cash. No financing contingency.
- We close in 7-21 days.
- We absorb the repipe cost as part of our renovation budget.
- You walk away clean with no PB liability.
How to Identify if Your Home Has Polybutylene
- Built between 1978 and 1995
- Check pipes coming into the water heater. PB is gray plastic. Could also be blue or black for cold water.
- Check pipes in unfinished areas: under sinks, in laundry rooms, garages
- Look for PB2110 markings on the pipe
- Inspector reports often flag PB plumbing
- If you have ever had a sudden major water leak, especially from a fitting, you may have PB
Cash Sale to Homeinc vs Repipe and List
| Factor | Repipe + List Traditional | Sell to Homeinc Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-pocket cost | $10K-$25K repipe + drywall | $0 |
| Time to close | 90-180 days | 7-21 days |
| Insurance requirement | Required to close | Not needed |
| Risk of repipe cost overrun | Common | None |
| Disruption | 5-10 days no water | None for you |
Why Choose Homeinc
- 10 years buying Florida homes including hundreds with polybutylene
- 1,200+ direct purchases completed
- No service fees, no commissions, no closing costs
- Direct buyer with our own capital, not a wholesaler
- Florida-based bilingual team
FAQ
Will you buy if my pipes are already leaking?
Yes. Active or past leaks do not deter us. We factor expected damage into our offer.
What if only some of my plumbing is PB?
Most homes that have any PB have PB throughout the supply lines. Even partial PB is a problem for insurance purposes.
I just got an insurance non-renewal letter.
Common and time-sensitive. Once your home is uninsurable, traditional buyers cannot purchase. Call Homeinc right away.
How much will I get?
Typically 70-85% of after-repair value, accounting for the repipe cost we absorb.
What if the home has water damage from past leaks?
Homeinc buys water-damaged homes. We will factor it in.
Related Resources
- Selling a Hurricane-Damaged Home in Florida
- Selling a House in Foreclosure
- How Fast Can I Sell My House for Cash?
- Cash Offer vs Market Value: The Real Math
Ready to Sell Your PB-Plumbed Florida Home?
No repipe. No drywall repair. No insurance battles. Cash offer in 24 hours.
Last reviewed and updated for 2026 market conditions. Homeinc’s cash offer process, closing timelines, and no-fee guarantee remain the same. Call (888) 850-2636 for a fresh cash offer today.