Kitec

Kitec is a brand of brass plumbing fitting that was recalled in 2005 by its manufacturer, IPEX, due to its tendency to quickly corrode. Inspectors should be aware that the fitting, which was widely installed throughout the western United States since the early 1990s, might be the cause of some plumbing ailments encountered during inspections.

Kitec was also sold in Canada for a time under the trademarks "IPEX Aqua", "IPEX Homerite", and under the more generic name "PEX-Al-PEX" (for PEX - polyethylene crosslinked - Aluminum - PEX).

How is Kitec defective?

Kitec was originally boasted as a corrosion-resistant alternative to earlier fittings made from copper. Corroded Kitec fitting IPEX manufactured the fittings with a high percentage of zinc, making them vulnerable to a corrosion of that element in a process that is known as dezincification. As water goes through the fittings it corrodes the metal and zinc leaches from the brass and CREATES a powdery buildup inside the fittings. This buildup can weaken the fitting, restrict water flow and, in the worst-case scenario, cause the pipe to leak or burst. Some homeowners have returned to their homes after being away for several days to find it flooded, requiring tens of thousands of dollars to replace carpet, drywall and furniture. Even small leaks, especially if they are hidden behind drywall, can lead to the growth of mold, which is itself a dangerous condition that can be expensive to repair.

To replace the fittings usually requires [...] into the walls and replumbing the house, which costs between $6,000 to $8,000, on average, although it can cost several times this amount. These costs are paid largely out of pocket, as some insurers do not cover repairs to items that were recalled and many insurers who will cover the repairs require a sizable deductible and increased rates.

Legal Matters

Kitec’s Canadian manufacturer, as well as homebuilding companies and plumbing contractors that installed Kitec fittings, have been the target of a series of massive class-action lawsuits. More than 31,000 homeowners in southern Nevada sued IPEX in 2006 and received a $90 million settlement. Roughly 30,000 homeowners in New Mexico united to file claims as well, and California is likely to follow suit once the scope of the problem is better understood. Builders and plumbers who installed the product, too, have been targeted.2 The Nevada builder Del Webb was recently ordered to pay more than $27 million to homeowners in that state. The purpose of these lawsuits is to force the defendants to replace the Kitec fittings and compensate homeowners who already paid to have them replaced.

Who is affected?

The exact number of homes with Kitec water pipe fittings is difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint.2 Many homeowners will suffer symptoms of the problem but never know its source. Based on the lawsuits that have been filed, it seems that roughly 60,000 homes in southern Nevada and New Mexico have Kitec fittings. In addition, it is likely that tens of thousands of homes across the southwest, notably in Tucson, Ariz., Maricopa County, Ariz., Sacramento, Los Angeles, and parts of Texas.

Identifying Kitec Plumbing

A sticker such as this one may be found in or on the electrical box. Identification of Kitec plumbing can take several days and must be performed by a qualified plumber. The plumber will bore small holes beneath sinks, then insert an instrument with a flexible arm to help them identify the fittings. Inspectors may be able to identify Kitec by a yellow or neon sticker on or inside the electrical box. Inspectors and plumbers should beware, however, that stickers were sometimes used indiscriminately to warn of nonmetallic plumbing systems other than Kitec. It is therefore possible that a home has no Kitec fittings even if there is a Kitec sticker in the electrical panel box. Similarly, many homes that contain Kitec plumbing do not have stickers in their electrical panel boxes. Also, Kitec PEX pipes may have the "Kitec" label.2

In summary, defective fittings known as Kitec were installed for many years throughout the American southwest.

References

www.nachi.org http://www.certifiedmasterinspector.org