Kitec Plumbing in Calgary

There are two main issues with Kitec pipes, both leading to leaks.

The first issue is the pipe itself. Kitec pipes have PEX (polyethylene) on the outside, aluminium as the interior layer, and a final layer of PEX on the inside.

While PEX pipes are durable on their own, this particular aluminium and PEX blend was only built to withstand temperatures of 180ºF.

Many water heaters and boilers become less efficient as they age, causing homeowners to turn up the temperature. If the water running through Kitec pipes is hotter than 180ºF, the pipes have proven to become weaker, leaving you prone to heavy leaks or even a burst.

The second – and more common – issue is the fittings used on Kitec piping, which are made of brass.

Brass is a zinc and copper alloy, and the brass in Kitec IPEX brand fittings has a higher concentration of zinc than other fittings.

Kitec IPEX fittings are susceptible to dezincification. This means that all the zinc effectively wears away, leaving only the copper part of the alloy, which makes the fitting porous and structurally weak.

Dezincification occurs when there’s a high pipe-wall temperature and when the fitting comes into contact with slightly acidic or alkaline water.

Calgary’s water is known to be hard, which means it has a lot of minerals in it. As a result it’s alkaline, and continued exposure to this water will cause dezincification in the Kitec fittings. This is what leads to leaks around the fittings.

You can learn more about dezincification here >

Any leaks in Kitec plumbing could cause severe water damage, especially since most of the pipe will be underground. You won’t know about a leak until it’s too late.

If you have a finished basement, this could culminate in an expensive renovation.

The higher the water pressure, the more prone your Kitec pipes are to rattling and bursting. Most boiler and in-floor heating systems operate with a water pressure of less than 20 psi (pound per square inch) – this is a low pressure that shouldn’t cause extra strain on your pipes.

We can install pressure reduction valves if you use Kitec pipes for any of your regular plumbing as a temporary fix.

Kitec pipes are typically more prone to freezing, as they aren’t as flexible as pure PEX pipes.

However, when your plumbing is properly insulated and your home properly heated, your risk of frozen pipes is low.

Depending on the extent of the Kitec plumbing in your home, it can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. We would replace the Kitec with oxy-barrier PEX piping – it has a membrane that prevents the migration of oxygen in and out of the pipes, which was the problem with poly b pipes.

It’s important to note that the costs mentioned above are just for the pipe and plumbing work. It doesn’t include the costs of pulling up and replacing any flooring.

Not necessarily – in some cases we can replace sections of your Kitec plumbing over time. We have the fittings to transition from Kitec to PEX piping. However, we still recommend strongly that all Kitec plumbing be replaced as quickly as possible.

The good news is, there may be a way to reduce your replacement costs.