PolyLock Class Action?

[MasterPlumbersKeymaster]

MY HOUSE IS PLUMBED WITH THE GRAY POLYLOCK TUBING AND I HAVE HAD THIS HOUSE SINCE IT WAS BUILT 11
YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE OUT OF THIS STUFF SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE. THIS MORNING I HAD A
MAJOR WATER LINE RUPTURE INSIDE THE HOUSE AND WHEN I AWOKE THIS MORNING I HAD 2 INCHES OF WATER IN THE MAIN
FLORR OF THE HOUSE. I HEARD THAT THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURED THIS PRODUCT WAS INVOLED IN A CLASS ACTION
LAWSUIT AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RAPAIRS OR REPLACING THE TUBING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
THIS COMPANY AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT THEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

BUD COOPER

[Polybutylene.comParticipant]

Mr. Cooper-

Polylock is an actual type of compression fitting that was manufactured by a company called Brass Craft. Polylock fittings are easily identified as they have large brass nuts at each end. Brasscraft polylock fittings were introduced to the market in late 1984 and finally discontinued in late 1988. Polybutylene is most likely the tubing that connects your fittings together, making one complete plumbing system. Polybutylene is a form of plastic resin that was used extensively in the manufacture of water supply piping from 1978 until 1995. Due to the low cost of the material and ease of installation, polybutylene piping systems were viewed as “the pipe of the future” and were used as a substitute for traditional copper piping. As you mentioned there are many different types of settlements that pertain to polybutylene and its components. If in fact you find that you have polylock fittings you should request more information from the Brass Craft Claims Facility at 3600 Orchard Hill Place, Novi, MI 48376.

To see an actual photograph of a polylock fitting you should visit http://www.polybutylene.com. Here you will find a page with 12 different poly related sections to choose from. Click on the What is Polybutylene section to get to the fitting photos. Here you will find a numbered chart of 26 different types of fittings and other components used with polybutylene. The picture you need to have a look at is #11. This is the polylock fitting made by Brass Craft.

Once you start clicking around at Polybutylene.com I’m sure you can find answers to any other questions that may come to mind. If not, send them an email! Polybutylene.com’s representatives are always ready for a tough plumbing question and they will respond to your inquiry in no time!

Good Luck,

John Griffith
[email protected]

<FONT SIZE=”1″ FACE=”Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif” color=”#FF0000″>[Edited by Polybutylene.com on 31 March 2000]</font>
<FONT SIZE=”1″ FACE=”Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif” color=”#FF0000″>[Edited by Polybutylene.com on 31 March 2000]</font>
<FONT SIZE=”1″ FACE=”Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif” color=”#FF0000″>[Edited by Polybutylene.com on 31 March 2000]</font>
[Edited by Polybutylene.com on 04 April 2000]

[hjParticipant]

Call 800-356-3496. Your house is within the parameters so you should be able to file a claim for replacement. If you have PB inside the house it is 99.9% certain the supply pipe is PB also. That pipe only has a 10 year, (with an 11th to file a claim), period so you are almost, if not already, out of time for that replacement.

[Poly DoctorParticipant]

RESPONSE: Comprehensive and FACTUAL Information Site for Polybutylene Information, Class Action Links and Contractor Opportunities. This site hides nothing and is here to HELP you – http://www.polybutylene411.org

This is a not for profit site that is here for one reason . . . to help you deal with repipe issues.
There are some sites that appear to be providing you with complete information about polybutylene. Some of these are commercial sites in the poly replacement business. They tell you what they want you to know. And some tell you different stories. Plumbing Express using their site http://www.polybutylene.com states that they do not use subcontractors, but they are advertising for subcontractors to do repipe work. We do NOT recommend you allowing a subcontractor to do repipe work in your home. Plumbing Express also lists their site as providing the most accurate information. I urge you to question some of the statements they make. And most important, question the references and testimonials they list. You will find that some of the names of the people providing the references cannot be found in the areas that Plumbing Express notes. The best thing to do is ask for the phone numbers of some of the testimonials that you select, or try to get the phone number from information. You will be amazed how inaccurate some of the information they provide is, and how misleading some of the testimonials are.

Some repipe companies do not even want you to have the class action phone numbers, even though they claim to be information sites with complete information. A better name would be Poly Info Limited for these sites. When you do see them posting a class action phone number some of these sites it is generally for someone that has already missed the deadline for filing. For example, you will see them post the phone numbers for the class actions when it is an exterior line that is older than 10 years old. If it is less than 10 years old or they are not sure, they will direct you to their site and try to sell you the job for the highest price possible.

If you do not qualify for the class action suits do NOT simply let a contractor tell you there are no alternatives. We can provide you with alternative solutions, as well as a list of top contractors to get estimates from. You certainly need more than one or two estimates and several referrals. We will also tell you the questions to ask your contractor to make sure they have crews that are qualified to do the work in your home. For example, make sure you ask any contractor if he has left a job and the house caught fire from hotspots they left in the walls. This is a very key question.

Also be sure to ask all companies for a few phone numbers of the references or testimonials they show you. Don’t let them select which ones if they are featured on a website. Just ask them for the names and phone numbers of the ones you want to call. You may find some surprises.

Here are some reliable websites with additional information :

Polybutylene Information Help Site – 5 STAR SITE – http://www.polybutylene411.org

Polybutylene Question and Answer Forum (NEW) – http://www.deja.com/~polybutyleneplumbing/

Master Plumbers Bulletin Board – 5 STAR SITE – http://www.masterplumbers.com/wwwboard_index.html

Terry Love Plumbing Bulletin Board – 5 STAR SITE – Info on Repipe – http://terrylove.com/pipe.htm

Terry Love Plumbing Bulletin
Board – 5 STAR SITE – Polybutylene Info and Pictures – http://terrylove.com/qest.htm

Dynamic Plumbing Information Forum – http://www.plbg.com/cgi-bin/forum.pl?&main&&view_by_order

CLASS ACTION – Consumer Plumbing Recovery Center – 800-356-3496 – http://www.pbpipe.com

CLASS ACTION – Spencer Class Facility – 800-490-6997 – http://www.spencerclass.com/

CLASS ACTION – Brasscraft Claims Facility – 3600 Orchard Hill Place, Novi, MI 48376

CLASS ACTION – Canadian Homeowners – http://www.siskind.com/classpipe.html

CLASS ACTION – Canadian Homeowners – http://www.poynerbaxter.com/

Poly site that references Class Action Lawsuit filed by the insurance industry against the poly resin manufacturers -www.businessinsurance.com/mktplace/ad0308.html

Site with Key Dates involved in the development and problems associated with polybutylene plumbing systems – http://cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/pipes/chronology.html

Site with confidential documents from Shell!!! – http://tv.cbc.ca/market/files/home/pipes/memo1.html

SPECIAL NOTE: If you would like referrals to reliable contractors in your area or you want to know more about your contractor, please e-mail . . . [email protected] or visit http://polybutylene411.org

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Poly Doctor

[Author]

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