Kitec plumbing, are you at risk?

A plumbing problem hiding in a lot of buildings

If your home or condo has Kitec plumbing, you carry a real risk of failure, and not just a slow leak but major flooding. Kitec was a cheaper alternative to copper, installed widely across North American homes and new condo developments from 1995 to 2007. It was pulled from the market in 2005 after persistent failures, and a class action settled in 2011.

The problem is built in. Kitec is not made to withstand high heat, above roughly 180 degrees Fahrenheit, or high pressure, and experts treat its eventual failure as a matter of when, not if. Insurers have responded by refusing coverage, raising deductibles or limiting coverage on homes that still have it.

How to tell if you have it

Kitec is the best-known name, but it was sold under several brands: AmbioComfort, AQUA, KERR Controls, IPEX, Plomberie Amelioree, PlumbBetter, WarmRite and XPA. It came in multiple colors, commonly blue, red and orange. If you see brightly colored flexible piping at the water heater or manifold, it is worth a closer look.

What to do if you have it

The class action settled and its fund has since been distributed, and given the volume of affected owners most saw little relief, so the practical decision sits with you today. Three options:

• Replace the piping. The surest fix, but costly and not claimable through insurance, usually $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the size of the home or unit.
• Sell, with disclosure. Some buyers will take on the replacement as part of the deal. If you recently bought a property with Kitec, the seller should have disclosed it, so talk to your broker.
• Add leak detection with automatic shutoff. This does not replace the pipe, but it means you know the instant a leak starts and can shut the water off before a failure becomes a flood. It is the right protection for any building, and essential while you weigh the bigger decisions.

Whatever you choose, tell your insurer the truth about your plumbing. Coverage can be denied if the application was wrong.

Frequently asked questions

Will Kitec definitely fail? Experts treat failure as inevitable because the material is not built for the heat and pressure of a normal plumbing system. The timing varies, the outcome does not.

Does insurance cover Kitec replacement? Generally no. Replacement is an out-of-pocket cost. What insurers increasingly do is raise deductibles or limit coverage on homes that still have it.

What is the fastest way to reduce my risk right now? Add detection and automatic shutoff so a leak is caught and stopped immediately. For the broader condo view, see water damage in condos and the effects of water damage.