This post is written by CreativNess Guest Blogger Jeffrey Brookfield. Jeffrey Brookfield is the owner of AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service and Guest Blogger at CreativNess. Jeff is responsible for the management of the business, improving the customer experience and quality control. "I'd like to hear your feedback. We're always looking for ways to improve our services and your comments are invaluable in that regard. 1-800-794-5880"

What kind of plumbing do you have in your home? It could be prone to failure.

There are a number of types of products used for water supply in North American homes. One type of plumbing that hasn’t had a very good track record is Kitec Plumbing.

Kitec is a brand of plastic plumbing supply lines with brass fittings (with the letters KITEC or KTC stamped on the fitting) used between around 1995 and 2007. The system was recalled in 2005 due to corrosion issues of the brass fittings.

This type of plumbing is often characterized by Blue and Orange pipes and sold under the the names “”IPEX Aqua”, “IPEX Homerite”, and under the more generic name “PEX-Al-PEX”, and others.

The problem is that the fittings were manufactured with a high level of zinc. As the zinc leached from the fittings, a powdery build-up formed which then weakened the fitting. In some cases, the pipe can leak or burst causing damage to the home. Some estimates suggest repair/replacement costs in the order of $6,000 to $8,000.

So how to tell if your plumbing lines are Kitec?

There may be a number of clues to determine if your home is plumbed with KITEC lines, however there is no substitute for an assessment by a licensed plumber:

• In some cases, a notice may be found on the electrical panel stating that Kitec was used in the home and that the electrical system should not be grounded to it.
• Look for the series of orange and blue pipes (although other colours were also used) in visible areas of the home (near the water heater or under sinks are good places to look)
• Look for the letters KITEC or KTC stamped on the brass fittings.
• The plumbing lines may be labelled with the word Kitec.

We are unable to determine how much of an issue this is in Canada or this Region, however some estimates suggest that 60,000 + homeowners in the US Southwest could be affected. However, we are seeing evidence of Kitec inWaterloo Region.

What can you do? Click here to find out a Class Action lawsuit against the manufacturer and what your next steps should be.