Your pipes are gray or dull silver.
Polybutylene is almost always gray. Copper is orange-brown. CPVC is cream. PEX is white, red, or blue.
Polybutylene Pipe Replacement in Metro Atlanta
Replace Gray Pipe Before It Fails
Polybutylene pipe was installed in Metro Atlanta homes from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. The material degrades from the inside. Failure is not a matter of if, but when. Plumbing Express handles polybutylene repipes turn-key under our whole-home repipe service. One crew covers pipe replacement, drywall repair, and ceiling texture match. Call (678) 439-9540 for a free in-home evaluation.
Do you have polybutylene? A 30-second self-check
Check any that apply to your home:
If two or more apply, your home very likely has polybutylene. Schedule a free repipe assessment. We confirm the pipe type on-site at no charge.
How to spot polybutylene pipe in your home
Some homes have polybutylene in plain view. Others have it routed through walls and ceilings where you cannot see it. Here is what to look for.
Color: Gray or dull silver. Not orange like copper. Not cream like CPVC. Not white, red, or blue like PEX.
Surface markings: “PB2110” or “Qest” stamped directly on the pipe.
Fittings: Plastic acetal fittings in gray, white, or copper color. No threaded metal joints.
Where to check: Under sinks, near the water heater, at the main shutoff, and where pipes come out of the slab.
Texture: Slightly flexible. The pipe bends under gentle pressure. Copper and CPVC stay rigid.
Brand names: Qest, Quest, PB2110. All are polybutylene. All carry the same failure risk.
If you are still not sure, a Plumbing Express estimator will confirm the material during a free in-home visit. We identify the pipe, assess the condition, and give you a straight answer with no obligation to proceed.
Why polybutylene pipe fails and why timing matters
If your home has polybutylene, the question is not whether it will fail. It is whether you want to address it on your schedule, with a planned project, or on its schedule, with an emergency call and water running down a ceiling.
Polybutylene was pulled from the market after major class action litigation in the 1990s. The failure pattern is systemic, not isolated. Disinfectants in municipal water react with the plastic over years and decades. The pipe walls scale, flake, and crack from the inside. There is no visible warning until water is already behind the drywall.
Most failures happen inside walls, above ceilings, or beneath slab foundations. The damage is usually advanced by the time you see it.
If your neighbors are repiping, pay attention
Most Metro Atlanta subdivisions with polybutylene were built in the same window, by the same builders, with the same plumbing specs. When failures start appearing on one street, they rarely stop with one house. The pipe in your walls is the same age as the pipe that failed next door.
Homeowners who repipe after seeing a neighbor deal with water damage usually describe it as peace of mind. The right time to call is before an emergency, not during one.
What to expect from a Plumbing Express polybutylene repipe
Polybutylene replacement sounds more disruptive than it is. We have completed thousands of polybutylene repipes across Greater Metro Atlanta. We know how PB systems are routed, where they fail first, and how to access them without tearing up more drywall than needed.
Timeline
Most whole-house polybutylene repipes finish in 2 to 3 working days.
Water service
Water is restored each evening. You do not need to move out.
Drywall
We number and stack every cutout by room so nothing gets lost.
Restoration
Drywall patch, texture match, and paint-ready finish are part of the same job.
Materials
PEX-A or CPVC pipe and valves made in the USA. Both come with long manufacturer warranties (PEX-A: 25 years, CPVC: 30 years).
Financing
Available with approved credit.
Learn more about our repipe process and how to prepare your home before we start. For slab-level leaks, see our slab leak detection and repair page. If you are researching other pipe materials, also see our failing copper systems and PEX pipe failure pages.
Ty Gailey, owner of Plumbing Express, walks through what to expect during a polybutylene replacement.
What Atlanta Homeowners Say About Plumbing Express
Our 4.9-star rating comes from 2,000+ Google reviews written by real homeowners across Metro Atlanta. Here is what a few of them had to say.
Read more reviews on Google or visit our customer reviews page to see why Atlanta homeowners choose Plumbing Express.
Jatara Ross
February 11, 2026
Service couldn’t be completed due to needing a new system. We appreciate the very informative visit as well as insight that could help after a new unit install.
Bob Gallup
February 6, 2026
Plumbing Express was great. I had a failed sump pump that had partially overflowed into the basement. Nasty. Josh was the tech that did the work. He was efficient, neat and courteous. I will use Plumbing Express if I have any other plumbing needs and I will recommend them to my family and friends.
Dwayne Cannon
February 6, 2026
The technician was very knowledgeable and professional. I believe they did a very good job.
Freda Iaizzi
February 6, 2026
Ron was our second plumber from this company. The first plumber came, examined pipes and said he found no leak, even though we had experiences a large amount of water leaking from the ceiling in the finished basement. Several days later we had another leak-same area but less water the second time. Ron came in, listened to our frustration and did a more thorough inspection of the pipes and identified the problem. He was very personable and professional. On his third visit, we had several replacement pipes installed and are without leaks again. Our frustration, with the situation, was my son had used your company to replace pipes when he purchased the home and founding out not all the pipes were included with that process.
KB Johnson
February 6, 2026
Tim arrived on time and was very professional. He took his time to explain the problem and the process it would take fix the water line.
Jay Betts
February 5, 2026
Called Plumbing Express as tankless hot water not operating. Their website states "Get Free Plumbing Quote ". When service man showed up an looked at unit he said there would be a $207 charge to look into unit in order to give me a quote to fix unit. Due to not having hot water and time required to get another company to address the problem I agreed to pay $207 for quote. After looking in unit I was told he would not be able to fix due to age of unit and parts not available. I think he should have said parts not available when seeing model number on front of unit and I would not have wasted $207.
Kim Isaacs
February 5, 2026
Outstanding customer service, we will definitely be using them in the future for any plumbing needs. Can’t thank them enough!
Ray Reynolds
February 4, 2026
Extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. The team was excellent. The job was completed in 1 day with a great team. Very expressive.
Elizabeth Miller
February 3, 2026
Daniel Perez was great in coming out to check the problem I had with a water leak from my air conditioner line. His recommendation was correct.
Nicholas Stodd
February 2, 2026
Great and informative service while I was in a bind without a functioning water heater.
Sharron Stephens
February 2, 2026
Plumbing Express is my go-to plumbing support team. They have fair pricing, well-vetted technicians, and a truly exceptional scheduling system. Rod, my technician, was the best. He quickly assessed the problem and gave a fair estimate, working hard to keep to the schedule. He even brought Josh along on the day of service, and the two of them worked well together. They addressed the bathtub drain repair with expertise and caused the least sheetrock damage. It was difficult to replace the broken pipe and get to the upstairs drain, but together they made it a success.
On Cue
January 30, 2026
Daniel did a great job and was very professional during his service call last week!
Victoria Tucker Limon
January 29, 2026
Rod and Josh did an awesome job taking care of my clogged sinks. Knowledgable, professional and great to work with - I really appreciated their help today and would highly recommend them and Plumbing Express!
william VAUGHN
January 29, 2026
Daniel was excellent. The work he did was simply superb. I highly recommend your company and hopefully Daniel will get more and more work
Christian Landon
January 29, 2026
Dylan from Plumbing Express came over and replaced our garbage disposal for us. It was older, had a massive leak, and needed to be replaced. He did a great job and was in and out in about 30 minutes! I also asked him to check out a potential leak I had been hearing in my ceiling. He used a thermal camera to investigate and was very honest and upfront about what he found. Rather than immediately cutting into the drywall to confirm something uncertain, he explained that the sound could simply be pipes expanding and that opening the wall might be unnecessary. He recommended monitoring the area and waiting to see if a wet spot appears, which would clearly indicate an actual leak. I really appreciated that he didn’t try to upsell or push unnecessary work. Overall, great service and a great guy. They will definitely be our go-to plumbing service from now on.
Jo-Ann Caster
January 27, 2026
Once again we had some problems under our kitchen sink so we called Plumbing Express who were able to get us on their schedule pretty quickly after these storms Tim Robinson came out to do the job. Tim has been to our house for a number of different plumbing problems. He is personable & professional. As usual he did a great job even though this particular problem turned out to be far more difficult than anyone had expected. As frustrating as it was, Tim worked through it until he finished the job. We can't thank him enough.
Robin R
January 27, 2026
Anthony was very competent, professional and friendly. He answered all my questions throughly. Highly recommend!
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have polybutylene pipes?
Look under sinks, near the water heater, and where pipes exit the slab. Polybutylene is gray, flexible plastic. It is often stamped “PB2110” or “Qest.” If you are not sure, a Plumbing Express estimator will confirm the material at no charge during a free in-home visit.
Can polybutylene pipe be repaired instead of replaced?
An isolated leak can be patched, but a patch does not fix the underlying problem. Polybutylene degrades systemically from the inside through contact with disinfectants in municipal water. Every section of pipe in the home has aged under the same conditions for the same number of years, and the pipe next to the repair is next in line. A repair buys time, not certainty. Most homeowners who patch a polybutylene leak end up repiping within 12 to 24 months anyway, after repeated repairs, water damage, and drywall work along the way. A whole-home repipe ends the cycle. See our repipe cost guide for a breakdown by home size and material.
Why was polybutylene pipe outlawed?
Polybutylene was not banned outright. It was pulled from the market after major class action litigation in the 1990s. The failure pattern was found to be systemic and not repairable by standard means. Homes that still have original polybutylene are well past its intended service life.
Is gray pipe always polybutylene?
Not always. In Metro Atlanta homes built between 1978 and 1995, gray flexible pipe is polybutylene in most cases. CPVC is cream or light yellow. PEX is white, red, or blue. Look for “PB2110” or “Qest” stamped on the pipe to confirm.
What is Qest pipe?
Qest is a brand name for polybutylene pipe made by Quest Chemical. It carries the same failure risk and the same replacement urgency as any other polybutylene. If your pipe is stamped “Qest,” you have polybutylene.
If my polybutylene has not leaked yet, should I still repipe?
Yes, and that is actually the better position to be in. A polybutylene pipe that has not leaked yet is one you can replace on your schedule, by appointment, with minimal disruption. A pipe that fails inside a wall gives you no warning. Homeowners who plan ahead usually describe it as a relief.
Can you sell a house with polybutylene pipes?
How long does a polybutylene repipe take?
Most whole-home polybutylene repipes finish in 2 to 3 working days. Water is restored at the end of each workday. You do not need to move out.
How much does a polybutylene replacement cost?
Cost depends on home size, fixture count, foundation type, and restoration scope. Every Plumbing Express estimate is fixed-price and fully itemized. Pipes, drywall repair, and paint-ready finish are included. Call (678) 439-9540 or see our repipe cost guide for a breakdown.
Our Service Areas
Serving Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, and Surrounding Communities
Plumbing Express provides plumbing, repiping, water heater, and drain cleaning services to homeowners across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Our licensed plumbers know the plumbing systems in this region, from aging polybutylene pipes in 1980s subdivisions to clay sewer lines in older neighborhoods.
We serve the following counties and communities:
Avondale Estates, GAAlpharetta, GABrookhaven, GACherokee County, GACobb County, GACumming, GADecatur, GADouglasville, GADuluth, GADunwoody, GA
Gwinnett County, GALawrenceville, GALilburn, GAMarietta, GANorcross, GARoswell, GASmyrna, GASnellville, GASuwanee, GAVinings, GA
Don’t see your city listed? We likely serve your area too. Visit our full service area page or call (678) 439-9540 to confirm availability at your address.
Ready to confirm what you have and what to do about it?
Call Plumbing Express at (678) 439-9540 or request a free repipe quote. We serve Metro Atlanta with 2,000+ five-star Google reviews.