Poly-B Replacement in Calgary, AB

Polybutylene plumbing was commonly installed in Calgary homes built between 1978 and 1998. If your home was constructed during this period, there's a possibility it contains poly-B pipes. Many insurance companies in Alberta now have specific policies regarding polybutylene plumbing, including potential surcharges or requirements for replacement. Learn more about poly-B →

Calgary is one of the places poly-B was built into most heavily. In the 2021 Census, 135,465 of the city’s 502,305 occupied dwellings (27%) date from 1981–2000, and the City’s own assessment roll gives 131,644 residential properties a 1978–1998 build year. The heaviest concentrations are in communities finished in the 1980s and early 1990s: Sundance, Woodbine, Castleridge and Falconridge are all above 98%.

Two local details matter for anyone living with poly-B. Calgary disinfects with chlorine, dosing sodium hypochlorite at both the Bearspaw and Glenmore plants (City of Calgary), and because the city spans an elevation range of almost 300 metres, pressure varies by zone; the City says homes built after 1990 in areas above 80 psi have a pressure-reducing valve (water pressure). Replacing water lines requires a City plumbing permit, taken out by the contractor doing the work (permits). The full Calgary guide covers costs, insurance and each step.