Kitec plumbing is a plastic water pipe system connected with brass fittings, and it was sold for houses between 1995 and 2007. The fittings corrode and clog, and hot lines can burst, so the common advice is to replace the entire system. Putting in PEX instead costs roughly $6,400 to $11,800 for a mid-size house using average US labor rates.
When was Kitec used, and how do you recognize it?
If your house was built or replumbed between 1995 and 2007, it might have Kitec. The first recalls happened in 2005. Cold lines were typically blue and hot lines orange, but the pipe also came in red, gray, and black, so the color by itself doesn't prove anything.
The reliable sign is Kitec or KTC stamped on the fittings. A fitting is that small brass piece connecting 2 pieces of pipe. The simplest spots to look are around the water heater and the main shutoff, since the pipe is exposed there. A plumbing supplier has more on identifying Kitec pipe.
Kitec replacement rather than repair
The trouble lies in the brass, not the plastic. Kitec fittings contained an extremely high level of zinc, and brass with that much zinc is now banned in the US. The zinc wears away over time and leaves deposits that block the line.
That blockage builds pressure inside the pipe, and the pressure causes cracks or bursts. Since every fitting in the house has the same defect, repairing 1 leak won't stop the next. That's why plumbers advise removing the full system rather than fixing leaks one at a time.
What will you pay to replace Kitec?
Most homes with Kitec get replumbed with PEX, a flexible plastic pipe, normally red on hot lines and blue on cold ones. How many bathrooms a house has and how big it is drive the price, and labor makes up about 70% of the total.
Here's what we figure a 1-floor home sitting above a crawl space costs, using average US labor. A crawl space is that shallow open area underneath a raised floor.
| Baths | Home size | PEX cost | Work days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,200 square feet | around $4,100–$7,700 | 2–3 |
| 2 | 1,800 square feet | around $6,400–$11,800 | 2–3 |
| 3 | 2,400 square feet | around $7,500–$14,400 | 3–4 |
| 4 or more | 3,200 square feet | around $10,600–$21,200 | 4–5 |
With a slab — concrete poured right on the ground, with pipes under or inside it — the work is harder and pricier. That 2-bath, 1,800 square foot example sitting on a slab runs about $8,300 to $16,300. Spread across 2 floors, the price is roughly $7,000 to $13,200 over 2 to 4 days. These numbers apply to the house described; the repipe company sets a fixed price once it has seen the house.
The Kitec plumbing lawsuit
After the fittings started failing, homeowners took IPEX, the manufacturer, to court. The case settled, and the settlement set aside $125 million to pay owners of affected homes.
Is the Kitec settlement still open to claims?
No. Filing closed on January 9, 2020, and the settlement administrator states that payments have been issued and the stale date has passed. Anyone who discovers Kitec in their house today pays for the replacement themselves.
Kitec plumbing insurance problems
Insurers want to know what type of pipe a house has because some kinds leak often. If yours falls into that group, coverage may be denied. Replacing the pipe before a leak forces the issue is a practical reason to act.
Kitec at a glance
- Used: 1995 to 2007
- Where you'll see it: Near the water heater and the main shutoff. Look for the word Kitec or KTC on the fittings.
- How it fails: The brass fittings corrode and block, and the hot water lines can burst.
- What to do: Replace it.
Details from watersmartsystems.com.
Common questions
Should Kitec be removed with no leaks showing?
Yes, and the hot side worries plumbers most. The orange hot-water pipe is rated only to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and bursting happens on hot lines. Cold lines that seem okay don't mean the system is safe.
Is selling a Kitec house allowed?
Yes, but you should tell buyers about it. An inspector who recognizes the KTC stamp will usually spot it regardless, and hiding it could cause trouble for you down the road.
Will Kitec scare buyers off?
Not always, though it does affect the deal. Once buyers know about it, they might push for a lower price, request a replacement first, or walk away entirely.
What does Kitec replacement cost by state?
Labor rates shift the price. Using the same example — 2 baths, 1,800 square feet, 1 floor, PEX, over a crawl space — Florida runs roughly $5,400 to $9,900, Texas roughly $5,700 to $10,500, California roughly $7,000 to $13,000, and Washington roughly $7,400 to $13,700. Copper runs roughly $9,400 to $18,800 in an average state and needs 3 to 5 days.