Warning! New KB Home Plumbing Problem?

 

New Defect in KB Homes?  Yes. 

 Update:  KB Home has filed suit against NIBCO.  Does your house have this plumbing? Lawsuit

• We have a new report from one of our readers in Texas.  Their KB Home has something called NIBCO Dura Pex Plumbing.  I’ve never heard of it before, but it seems it could be very expensive to fix, and could cause a lot of damage. Thanks to our reader for informing us that KB Home houses may have this product installed.   This plumbing is prone to cracking early and frequently.  It may break inside the walls and under slabs and has an affinity for breaking near the hot water heater. It was manufactured and installed between 1999 and 2008. So for anyone having problems (especially repeated problems), and your house was built since 2000, you might want to talk to your plumber and check for NIBCO Dura Pex Plumbing...

 

• Don’t wait for KB Home

  I would not hold my breath waiting for KB Home to honestly inform you (even if asked) of a potential problem with your plumbing. Whether or not they have liability (maybe only the manufacturer does?) we have seen what KB Home did with the Chinese Drywall installed in their houses. A whistle blower said they made it as hard as possible to detect the drywall, so why would anyone think they would do anything different with defective plumbing? Read – KB Home Chinese Drywall Whistle

 

• Check you Local County Building Department
•  There may be a record of the type of plumbing used while under construction, or notes in the building plans.

 

• Class Action Filed
•   A Class Action Lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturer of the plumbing. You can read that suit here for more information on the product.  Lawsuit claims NIBCO PEX fittings, clamps, defective. 

Excerpt: “A Class action lawsuit has been filed against NIBCO claiming that the manufacturer’s cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) plumbing tubes are defective and fail earlier than expected.” 

• I don’t know anything about the firm filing the suit, and am not endorsing them, but this will give you some background. I’ve never heard much positive about class actions, but if you have (or think you have) this plumbing, you might want to contact a private lawyer, this class action lawyer, your insurance company, or a private (public) insurance adjuster.

 

• Public (private) insurance adjuster may be helpful
•  .I found a link to one who seems to specialize in water intrusion.  Again, I don’t know them personally but you get the idea.  I have used my own public adjuster after hurricanes and found them to be very helpful. Public Insurance Adjuster Water Intrusion.  Check your state for local listings. Adjusters can help negotiate insurance and save time and money. .

 

•  Watch Your Insurance Coverage.
• Beware. Some insurers are limiting any water intrusion coverage from their policies, in Florida and nationwide. Peoples’ Trust recently stopped insuring older homes for water issues.  State Farm and others have limited water problems.   Hardly any policy covers mold.

..

• . Could Cost a Fortune – An Ounce of Prevention.

• If you have this plumbing it could cost you a fortune if your insurance won’t cover the leaks, and if it is throughout the whole house – or under a slab – what a nightmare. I strongly recommend anyone buying a KB Home (or any house – but especially KB Home) – (look at their history), pay for a very expensive home inspection, by a qualified engineer.  Yes, it will increase the price of the house, but we all know your building department doesn’t have your back.  Your state regulators are worthless, and private lawsuits (if you can get around the arbitration clauses and builder right to cure laws), well good luck,  & I hope you have years of patience.

 

•  Chat Groups  

• So this is one more thing to watch for in your KB Home, because if this stuff was cheap, you better bet it was used. Here’s a link to  some chatter on the subject.

 

•  Are there already KB Home Plumbing Problems?

 

• Heck Yes! Name me one thing in a KB Home that doesn’t have a problem. In my neighborhood, the toilets don’t flush correctly.  Several houses had the slab dug up because the pipe leading to the sewer did not slope enough.  The county has had to repair plumbing under the road several times.  I’m told the sewer connections were too high and heavy trucks break the fittings. The pipes broke in my walls after I first moved in.  The pipe was not clamped to the stud.  How many of the pipes are not strapped?   The sink fell out of the granite because there is no wood below to screw in clamps.  Everything is just glued in place.   Sewage Problems plague owners.