PEX REPIPE & COPPER REPIPE

Kitec is a polymer pipe that was typically installed in homes between 1995 - 2007 in the

Sacramento area including Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Elk Grove, Rancho

Murieta, Natomas, and Lincoln.

Kitec piping was originally installed because it was believed to be a cheaper and more

efficient alternative.

Kitec pipes can be identified by their distinct orange and blue color. Typically marked as

Kitec made in Canada.

The pipes were recalled beginning in the mid-2000s meaning most of the failures began

about ten years after the homes were built. Suggesting the lifespan of Kitec to be

approximately 10 years. The manufacturer of Kitec settled a class action lawsuit in the

United States and Canada. Homes with Kitec pipes will most likely experience failure as

time passes. Not a matter of IF but WHEN. The brass fittings that connect the Kitec pipes

contain large amounts of Zinc, which breaks down when exposed to moisture and oxygen

called dezincification. Therefore, the pipes and fittings are prone to become mechanically

weak. In addition, Zinc oxide causes blockages in the piping, resulting in bursts causing

flooding and water damage to the homes.

Kitec pipes tend to burst on the hot water pipes since the material of the pipe is only able

to handle a maximum temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit. However, water heaters

can go beyond this temperature causing the pipe to rupture since it exceeds the maximum

temperature the pipe can hold.

Some home insurance companies might be hesitant to insure homes with Kitec plumbing.