It could also be stamped with one of the following brand names:Īside from the pipes themselves, you can also identify Kitec plumbing systems by the brass fittings, which will usually have one of the following stamps: Kitec piping might literally say “Kitec” right on it, making your job easy. Look near the hot water tank, or under your kitchen or bathroom sinks-wherever there are exposed water pipes. At the very least, you’ll want to take a closer look. While Kitec isn’t the only type of pipe to use these colours, if your plumbing system is purely orange and blue, it could very well be Kitec. Kitec pipes come in distinctive orange and blue colours. There are several methods you can use to figure out if your home holds any Kitec plumbing. How do I know if I have Kitec Plumbing in my home? It’s estimated that nearly 300,000 homes in North America had Kitec piping installed.Įven though Kitec plumbing was recalled in 2005, some contractors continued to use it until at least 2007. Kitec plumbing was in use from 1995 through 2007, so any home built in or around this period could have Kitec pipes or fittings. Brass fittings are used to join the pipes together. The pipes were made from polyethylene and a thin inner layer of aluminum.
The orange pipes are also used in radiant heating systems. The blue pipes carry cold water, and the orange pipes carry hot water through a home. In the end, you may have to replace all your piping and fittings. Unfortunately, rare is the home plumbing system that doesn’t carry hot water. A qualified plumber might determine that your Kitec pipes aren’t under pressure and aren’t carrying hot water, and thus stand a better chance of surviving without issue. If you have Kitec plumbing in your home, you may want to call in a licensed plumber or certified home inspector to take a look. Some plumbing experts say the question is not IF your Kitec plumbing will leak, but WHEN it will leak. What can you do to maintain your Kitec plumbing? You’re encouraged to keep checking the settlement administrator’s website as the settlement process continues. If you have Kitec plumbing and you didn’t file a claim under the class action settlement, it may not be too late. Presently, only those who experienced actual failure of their systems are eligible for compensation, but anyone who has Kitec plumbing in their home was encouraged to file a claim. However, the administrator is still processing claims and a final distribution plan for the settlement funds is still in progress. In 2011, courts in Quebec, Ontario, and the US approved a settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit, and homeowners who suffered Kitec plumbing leaks could receive a share of the $125 million USD settlement.Ĭlaim submissions for this case officially ended on January 9, 2020. In fact, Kitec plumbing was recalled by the manufacturer in 2005. The Kitec plumbing class action lawsuit and recalls Due to its tendency to corrode rather rapidly, Kitec plumbing is no longer manufactured. Kitec plumbing was used as piping for drinking water, as well as in under-floor heating systems, and hot water baseboard heaters. The Kitec plumbing system usually consists of blue and orange flexible piping and brass fittings. The pipes are made of polyethylene with a thin layer of aluminum. Plumbers liked Kitec piping because it was cheaper than copper and, being made of flexible material, it was easy to install. Kitec was the most common brand it was sold under, but the plumbing system was also available under these brands:
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