Poly-B Replacement in West Vancouver, BC

Polybutylene plumbing was commonly installed in West Vancouver 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 British Columbia now have specific policies regarding polybutylene plumbing, including potential surcharges or requirements for replacement. Learn more about poly-B →

West Vancouver is one of the region’s older municipalities: more than half of its 17,690 occupied dwellings were built before 1981. The 2021 Census still places 4,575 homes (25.9%) in 1981–2000, with 2,560 from the 1980s and 2,015 from the 1990s. Those homes are spread across a municipality where older houses are the majority, so the build year of your own address matters more than the average.

Older houses are not automatically clear. Alberta’s provincial safety guidance makes a point that holds anywhere: a house built before the mid-1970s only has poly-B if its plumbing was renovated later (Alberta Municipal Affairs), so ask what work was done and when. BC Housing suggests a pressure-reducing valve where water pressure exceeds 80 psi and warns that insurers may exempt poly-B claims (BC Housing). The Vancouver guide covers strata rules, permits and published Lower Mainland prices.