Waywest Mechanical replaces Poly-B (polybutylene) water piping in homes in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. Poly-B was widely installed from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s and is prone to failure at fittings and joints, often without warning. Waywest's licensed plumbers replace it with modern PEX or copper piping, usually through small wall and ceiling openings rather than full demolition.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Why Poly-B is a problem
Polybutylene piping — Poly-B — was installed across Canada from the late 1970s into the mid-1990s because it was inexpensive and fast to install. A large share of Nanaimo's housing was built in exactly that period, which is why Poly-B failures are one of the most common emergency calls we take.
Poly-B does not usually fail by slowly weeping. It tends to split or separate at a fitting, often inside a wall or ceiling, and can release a lot of water before anyone notices. By the time it shows up as a stain, the damage underneath is already done.
Beyond the risk of a leak, Poly-B affects:
- Home insurance — many insurers ask about it, and some restrict coverage or raise premiums
- Resale — home inspectors flag it, and buyers frequently negotiate for replacement
- Peace of mind — particularly for homes left empty while owners travel
Identifying Poly-B in your home
Check these places:
- The pipes coming out of the top of the hot water tank
- Under kitchen and bathroom sinks, where supply lines meet the shut-off valves
- The main water shut-off where the line enters the house
- Exposed piping in an unfinished basement, crawlspace or garage ceiling
Poly-B is flexible plastic, most often grey, and frequently stamped with "PB2110". Note that some homes have short sections of copper at the fixtures with Poly-B hidden in the walls. If you are unsure, we can confirm it during a service call.
How we replace it
The goal is to replace every length of Poly-B while opening as little of the house as possible.
- Walk-through and plan. We trace where the piping runs, find the main distribution routes, and plan new runs through basements, crawlspaces, attics and closets.
- Written quote. You see the scope, the number and location of wall openings expected, and the timeline.
- Protect the house. Floors and furnishings near the work are covered.
- Install new piping — usually PEX, run in new continuous lengths with fewer joints than the original.
- Connect fixtures with new shut-off valves at sinks and toilets.
- Pressure test the new system before any walls are closed.
- Remove the old Poly-B where accessible, or cut and cap abandoned lines.
Water is typically restored at the end of each working day, so you can live in the house during the work.
Wall openings and drywall repair
Replacing piping inside finished walls means some openings are unavoidable. Using flexible PEX lets us fish lines through walls from above and below, which keeps openings small and few.
Should you replace it before it fails?
Our honest answer: if you plan to stay in the house, yes. The cost of a planned replacement is predictable. The cost of an unplanned failure — water damage, drywall, flooring, an insurance claim, and the replacement anyway — is not.
If a single Poly-B fitting has already failed, that is the clearest signal. The rest of the system is the same age and the same material.
Related work
Poly-B replacement is a form of whole-house repiping. If your water service line from the street is also Poly-B or galvanized, consider replacing the water main at the same time.
Service area
Waywest replaces Poly-B piping in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan, Chemainus, the Comox Valley and across our Vancouver Island service area.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
How much does Poly-B replacement cost?
Poly-B replacement cost depends on the size of the home, the number of bathrooms and fixtures, how accessible the pipes are through crawlspaces and attics, and how much drywall must be opened. Waywest walks the house first and provides a written quote showing the scope and expected wall openings, so the price is set before work begins.
Does Poly-B need to be replaced?
Poly-B is not illegal and some systems last for decades, but it is prone to sudden failures at fittings and many insurers restrict coverage for homes that have it. Waywest recommends replacing Poly-B if you plan to stay in the home, have already had a Poly-B leak, or your insurer requires it.
How do I know if my house has Poly-B?
Poly-B is flexible plastic pipe, usually grey, sometimes black or blue, often stamped "PB2110". Look where water lines leave the hot water tank, under sinks, and at the main shut-off. Homes built or replumbed on Vancouver Island between the late 1970s and mid-1990s are the most likely to have it.
Why does Poly-B fail?
Polybutylene can become brittle over time, especially where it is exposed to chlorinated water, heat or stress at bends, and its fittings — particularly older plastic fittings — are a common failure point. Failures are often sudden rather than a slow drip.
Do I have to replace Poly-B to get home insurance?
Many Canadian insurers ask about Poly-B, and some charge higher premiums, limit water damage coverage or decline to insure homes that still have it. Requirements vary by company, so check with your insurer or broker. Waywest provides documentation once replacement is complete.
How long does Poly-B replacement take?
A typical single-family house takes a few days of plumbing work, with water off only for part of each day. Larger homes, finished basements and multi-storey layouts take longer. Drywall repair and painting after the plumbing work add time and can be arranged separately.
What pipe replaces Poly-B?
Most Poly-B replacements use PEX, a flexible cross-linked polyethylene that is fast to route through existing walls with fewer joints. Copper is an option where preferred. Waywest recommends the material based on the house layout and your priorities.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.