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PB Piping (QWEST):

Polybutelene piping (Pb), of which “QWEST” is the most common brand name, was installed in manufactured homes as late as  1993. It was found to be problematic at best and outright defective at best, with problems developing in PB water piping systems that “appeared fine” within about 10-15 years of installation. Unfortunately, it was the most widely used material for the water distribution systems in manufactured homes between 1980-1993. One characteristic of pb piping was the common occurrence of the hot water distribution lines splitting apart, although it was also common to find splits at fittings on both hot and cold sides of the system, as well as splits and leaks in lengths of pipe that were not apparently subjected to mechanical stress at all.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH:

• Cross-linked polyethelene or PEX piping. Pex piping, also a flexible material, is rapidly becoming the new “gold standard” material for water distribution systems in terms of affordability, ease and speed of installation, and resistance to seismic (earthquake-related) events.
• Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride or CPVC piping. CPVC is still an approved plumbing material for water distribution systems, but it’s popularity has declined in favor of PEX. CPVC is different from PVC in that it is approved for above-ground use and can be used on the hot side of the system. CPVC is easy to identify as it is beige in color, has glued joints (glue is commonly yellow or orange in color) and the most common brand name found in Washington state is FLOWGUARD or FLOIWGUARD GOLD which can be found printed on the exterior of the pipe. CPVC has inherent problems with fragility, and is not used by this company as a replacement material for water distribution in favor of PEX.

The Class Action Lawsuit:

There was a class action suit that made allowances for the replacement of Pb piping systems, as long as the claim was made within 10 years of the date of manufacture. As of this writing, and according to the pb piping website ( a link will be posted later), the statute of limitations for such claims expired as of May 1 ,2009.

Mobile Home Rehabilitation in a nutshell:

It is company policy NOT to attach into or affect repairs on Pb piping, and because of limitations on manpower, we offer a seemingly “all or nothing” approach to the problems with Pb piping, offering quotes for the replacement of pb systems ONLY.

What you need to know about repiping your manufactured home:

Repairs to manufactured homes fall under the jurisdiction of the Dept. of Labor and Industries in Washington state. Replacement of the water distribution system requires a Factory Assembled Structures or FAS permit. This process, among other things, offers the manufactured home owner the reassurance that the work has been conducted in a professional manner, and the structure is certified as sound by the State of Washington. Commonly, at least two inspections are required: certification of the repipe itself and the restoration of any rodent barrier (also called “belly plastic”) and any insulation removed or disturbed to accommodate the work. The manufactured home is then re-certified with a new sticker–these are commonly found on the outside of the structure near the manufacturer’s label. The FAS permit is the law– consumers are advised to be wary of any contractor who does not automatically bring up the permit and inspection process or who assures you  ”you don’t need one” or that you’re “grandfathered in”. There are no exceptions, and the Department of Labor and Industries is adamant about enforcement of the FAS permit process. Is this just red tape? In the opinion of this company, no. With the high concentration of retired and senior citizens who choose manufactured housing, coupled with the unfortunate statistics that suggest that retired and senior citizens are also a target for shady contractors, we respect that the FAS permit process is in place to protect citizens– you have to ask yourself–what would I want to happen to my mother or grandmother if she needed a plumber?  and act accordingly.

Use the contact link on the home page or call 360-292-2348 to request a quote for the rehabilitation of YOUR manufactured home.