Uponor PEX issues - 5 leaks in 2 months. House built in 2015. Need advice.

[JohnCT]

They are still claiming "no manufacture defect", but will replace all my pipes. So basically, not admitting fault, but will fix the problem. Which at end of the day, I can live with that.

Are they replacing just the materials or paying for a full repipe and all that entails?

Are you on a municipal water supply and if so, has anyone done a chemical analysis of the water?

John

 

[leaking_upnor]

Are they replacing just the materials or paying for a full repipe and all that entails?

Are you on a municipal water supply and if so, has anyone done a chemical analysis of the water?

John

They have not 100% fully committed, but they want the quote to do everything. Parts/material/labor. Drywall/paint too. And yes, the inspector did chemical analysis on-site. Everything came out okay.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[JohnCT]

They have not 100% fully committed, but they want the quote to do everything. Parts/material/labor. Drywall/paint too. And yes, the inspector did chemical analysis on-site. Everything came out okay.

Thanks for the info. I hope you get the whole thing covered.

John

 

[KDavis]

(RED TUBE) BOPSI 2100 UPONOR - PEX A TUBING UB62140926 U5295

I am having this issue with the same pipe. 9 leaks in total, all pin hole leaks in the hot water lines. We are re-plumbing the entire house today. The question is whether to replace the clod line too. I started a claim with Uponor, but I need our re-plumb invoice to finish. Did you end up re plumbing? Did you do the cold side too? I understand that there is a class action suit against them in Colorado. It involves failures at the joints (mine are not at the joints, but in the middle.) That was a lot of questions in one go. Sorry

 

[KDavis]

Or, it could be a municipal water issue in the Atlanta area - has Uponor also taken a water sample(s) in addition to failed pipe samples?

I'm sorry for what you are going through. I had to repipe because my copper got swiss-cheesed by low pH water, and waking up to a kitchen ceiling soaked with water still gives me nightmares. I can't imagine what you are still going through now.

One leak could be a nicked pipe on installation, two leaks indicates a problem. Photos of failed pipe posted on this forum have always shown the failed pipe with yellowing. It's been speculated that chloramine added to municipal water is burning the PEX chemically. Do you have any close up pics of your failed pipe you can post?

FWIW, a lot of pros on this site have been installing Uponor for decades with zero leaks, so it must either be a batch problem or local water issues.

We are having issues in Colorado

 

[KDavis]

Hi @Disnyfan1 @Mgreen063

Looks like I am also in the same boat and searching for Uponor landed me here. My house was built in 2016. Over last year, I had about 15 leaks. Hot water carrying Uponor 3/4" Red PEX pipe - pinhole leaks in different section of the pipe, every 4-6 weeks. I spent lot of money already, after lot of frustration, I decided to repipe the house and asked for some quotes. All the plumbers I asked for a quote immediately asked me to file a warranty with Uponor and told me that there is a problem with the Uponor pipes and one of the plumber in Altanta area claimed that their company is doing 1-2 Uponor repiping projects every week!!!

I have filed my first claim in August 2022 and sent the sections of PEX pipes that were cut to fix the leaks to Uponor. It has been a frustrating experience so far, Uponor keep on dragging without any conclusion. Since the initial claim, I had several more leaks and more claims were made. There was site visit by one of the Uponor field person to verify the conditions at home, more than 2 months ago. Then Uponor sent a mail saying their computers were hacked for a month. For more than 2 months, only response is "evaluation is in progress".

The warranty says if you repipe on your own, they won't reimburse. Every time a new leak develops, they are asking for that section of pipe to be sent to "complete evaluation". But they don't complete the evaluation in time before next leak occur. In few weeks another leak is happening and they are asking to send the part again to "complete evaluation". It looks they are playing a game to to frustrate customers. it has been terrible to deal with water leaks, 15 times dry walls/ceilings were cut and I have small kids and entire family is frustrated with leaks, water mitigation loud sounds for 3-4 days and repair process. I am concerned about potential mold development. However, Uponor seems unmoved by the plight of the customers. Never in my life dealt with such terrible customer service. I have not heard anything other than "evaluation is in progress" to my weekly emails.

(I had several evaluation by qualified plumbers to find out why leaking are happening, water pressure, water temperature, every faucet and every equipment connected to plumbing system was checked several times. No issues identified. House has recirculation system and I even installed a timer to shut circulation for nearly 9 hours every night, still pinhole leaks are happening).

This makes my heart stop. Plumbers are literally cutting holes in my house and re-plumbing as I type this. I have started the claim process, but they want invoices for the repairs. I am just now realizing they mean the REPAIRS, not the re-plumbing. UGH! Well, there is also a class action suit here in Colorado. The attorney was willing to add my type of failure (not at the joints, but in the pipes) I guess t his will be our course of action. We have had 9 leaks. What in the world... do they expect us to wait and repair hoping we catch it before it destroys more that lust a little dry wall?

 

[JohnCT]

This makes my heart stop. Plumbers are literally cutting holes in my house and re-plumbing as I type this. I have started the claim process, but they want invoices for the repairs. I am just now realizing they mean the REPAIRS, not the re-plumbing. UGH! Well, there is also a class action suit here in Colorado. The attorney was willing to add my type of failure (not at the joints, but in the pipes) I guess t his will be our course of action. We have had 9 leaks. What in the world... do they expect us to wait and repair hoping we catch it before it destroys more that lust a little dry wall?

A leak is a single event - could be a blem in the extrusion process or a nick by a careless install.

Nine leaks means the pipe is garbage. If the house isn't re-piped, you will be cutting holes and patching pipe as long as you own the house.

The house needs to be re-piped and Uponor needs to pay for all of it including drywall and paint.

John

 

[KDavis]

Im not going to google PEX leaks but I wonder if 20 people in the country had it happen would all of them wind up here and putting such doubt into what so many belive/ belived a good product. (Im trying to understand extent of the problem) and dont find that pending lawsuits are an indication. I suppose if you can replace every bit of pex in the house and 100 percent repipe with pex most of us would be good with it. Id like to know exact price differance to upgrade or downgrade depending on opinion to copper type L?
Leaking Uponer , please share more was it all red pipe? plus anything else I know you are looking for answers but sharing your details might help others, and spark more info back to you from others

We are having this problem in Colorado .

A leak is a single event - could be a blem in the extrusion process or a nick by a careless install.

Nine leaks means the pipe is garbage. If the house isn't re-piped, you will be cutting holes and patching pipe as long as you own the house.

The house needs to be re-piped and Uponor needs to pay for all of it including drywall and paint.

John

That is the goal!

 

[leaking_upnor]

I am having this issue with the same pipe. 9 leaks in total, all pin hole leaks in the hot water lines. We are re-plumbing the entire house today. The question is whether to replace the clod line too. I started a claim with Uponor, but I need our re-plumb invoice to finish. Did you end up re plumbing? Did you do the cold side too? I understand that there is a class action suit against them in Colorado. It involves failures at the joints (mine are not at the joints, but in the middle.) That was a lot of questions in one go. Sorry

I feel for you man. I went through the same thing. Looks like many more folks are going through the same thing. How many people do you need for a class action?

 

[JohnCT]

How many people do you need for a class action?

Enough to make the lawyers happy...

John

 

[Jeff H Young]

I feel for you man. I went through the same thing. Looks like many more folks are going through the same thing. How many people do you need for a class action?

Still waiting for you to provide helpful information on what is going on with your case? Go hire a lawyer if thats your intention

 

[leaking_upnor]

I'm just waiting right now. Uponor is deciding if they are going to pay for the repair. I'm guessing they will make an offer? But just waiting at the moment.

 

[Jeff H Young]

Good Luck on it leakin upnor! I think Uponor is a stand up company . I think providing details on your problem , including who the plumbers coming out for "free" 9 or 10 times why are they working for free ? You only said the Engineers havent got back? so no water on in house ? holes been patched? If I put plumbing in a house Im not coming back 10 times 4 years later for "free" or if I do its out of charity not respoceability. maybe Uponor is paying them as I would expect. Maybe Uponor is cooperating and doing the right thing to get to the bottom and stand behind product