KITEC Plumbing Found In RED RIVER Home. This Is A Problem, Here's Why.

A recent home inspection turned up Kitec piping in a home I had listed. If you have never heard of Kitec, here is why it matters and what you should do if you run into it while shopping for a house.

What Kitec Is and Why It Fails

Kitec was used back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and it showed up in some local homes here in Red River. The trouble is a high failure rate. The connections were usually the weak point, and they literally started to disintegrate over time. There was also an issue if while during the installation, the pipe was bent at a sever angel, it could rupture the interior lining of the pipe and cause an inline failure. The problem with Kitec was widespread enough that a class action lawsuit ran through about 2020 to help reimburse affected homeowners.

How to Spot Kitec Before You Buy

If you are buying a house, keep an eye out for it. Most Kitec is orange, but it was also made in blue, and it will usually say Kitec or Ipex right on the pipe. A thorough home inspection is where this kind of thing gets caught, so make sure yours does not cut corners.

Found Kitec? Don't Panic

Here is the good news. Finding Kitec does not have to be a deal breaker. It can be dealt with and plenty of homes with it have changed hands just fine. The key is knowing it is there so you can plan for it and factor it into your decision.

Kitec is not the end of a deal. It is just one more thing to know about before you sign. Get a solid inspection and ask questions.

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Have questions or want to learn more? Give us a call at 575-613-4243. We're happy to help.

 

Rob Swan | Qualifying Broker | Swan Realty Inc.