What is Kitec?
Kitec is a brand of plumbing that was used in many houses and condominiums built from 1995 to 2007. Kitec was installed for potable water pipes, as well as in-floor and hot-water baseboard heaters. It was advertised as a cheaper, easier to install and longer lasting alternative to copper plumbing systems, consisting of aluminum pipes wrapped inside and out in plastic PEX pipe, and joined by brass fittings.
Why is Kitec plumbing a problem?
Around 2005, Kitec pipes were recalled since they deteriorated rapidly and would fail at high water temperature or pressure. Many homes with Kitec plumbing systems faced floods causing water damage to their own units and neighbouring units due to Kitec pipes that leaked or burst. Besides the problem of premature failure, Kitec as a company has stopped manufacturing its plumbing products. This creates the additional problem that even if only small repairs are required, the parts for these repairs are no longer available on the market. Due to the unpredictability of Kitec plumbing, many home insurance companies also refuse to insure Kitec-equipped homes, necessitating their replacement.
How do I know if I have Kitec in my home?
Check for pipes under your sinks, behind a washing machine, or near the hot water tank where the pipes connect. If you have Kitec plumbing in your home, you generally will notice bright blue plastic pipe for the cold water supply and red or orange plastic pipe for hot water. Kitec plumbing is also labeled with one of the following names: Kitec, Kitec XPA, XPA, IPEX, AQUA, PlumbBetter, WarmRite, AmbioComfort, KERR Controls or Plomberie Améliorée.