All Around The HOUSE
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

 

All Appliances Buying And Selling Cooling Electrical Environmental Exterior Health And Safety Heating Home Improvement Home Inspection Insulation Insurance Interior Plumbing Roofing Special Structure

9/2/2019 0 Comments

How do i spot kitec?

Picture
 
​Short Guide to Identifying IPEX Plastic Piping, Connectors and Fittings


Kitec tubing was sold in Canada and the United States for a range of applications including water supply and distribution piping, and in-floor heating systems. System failures resulting in leaks - and often substantial property damage, led to a class action suit and eventually a settlement agreement.
  • On the plastic tubing:  PEX type tubing may be labelled with the  KITEC brand or other IPEX markings, including the following:  PE-AL-PE, PERT-AL-PERT, PEX, Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA, WarmRite, Kitec XPA, AmbioComfort, XPA, KERR Controls, Plomberie Améliorée,  IPEX Aqua, IPEX Homerite and under the more generic name "PEX-Al-PEX"  meaning PEX (polyethylene cross-linked) - Aluminum - PEX)
  • Kitec plastic tubing was sold in orange for hot water piping and also sold in red and blue colours. You can sometimes see plastic water piping at the hot water tank, in unfinished basements and crawl spaces. In some buildings it may be necessary to use a bore scope, or to cut or drill inspection openings to access water supply piping and fittings. 
  • On brass plumbing fittings: Brass KITEC fittings are often marked with  oKT, KTC or Kitec and you may find IPEX or XPA on crimp rings. 


Q: What if I see plastic piping and I'm not sure if it's a problem?
A: Call a reputable plumbing or heating contractor in your local area. (Not every plumber in every locale will necessarily have experience with this product, so ask if they are familiar with Kitec and if they have replaced it in any number of  homes or other buildings.)

Q: How much is this going to cost?
A: Replacement costs will vary depending upon the amount of plumbing work required, the degree of difficulty (two-storey homes, finished basements and concrete slab installations, for example can be more difficult and costly.)
​
Q: Does all the piping have to be replaced, even if it looks okay?
A: Maybe not, but the choice may be made for homeowners, especially if they are selling and buyers cannot get insurance because of the presence of Kitec piping in the home.
​
The Different Types of PEX Tubing (Video)
Kitec Settlement Website
Bob Aaron: Property Law, for the Toronto Star, March 2015
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario since 1994.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All Appliances Buying And Selling Cooling Electrical Environmental Exterior Health And Safety Heating Home Improvement Home Inspection Insulation Insurance Interior Plumbing Roofing Special Structure

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

Learn about home inspections at electrospec.ca