Leaking Pipes in Mobilehome....

[wendys8861]

What is the name of your state? CA

Sorry if this is not the correct place to file this.

My mother purchased a used mobilehome in June, 2005. The mobilehome was built in 1981. Before purchase, she had a home inspection done.

Yesterday, she sprung a leak and found that like so many other homeowners, her home has polybutylene piping.

Her plumber has told her that she needs to have the entire home re-piped and it's going to cost a fortune, which she doesn't have. She is disabled, lives on $900 per month and does not have enough savings for such a big repair.

My research reveals that there was a class action lawsuit settled several years ago, but according to the guidelines, the claim would have had to have been made before 1991 (10 years after initial installation) so I don't think she'd qualify.

Here are my questions:
The previous owner obviously had a leak before (according to the plumber that came out today). This was never disclosed to her. Is there any liabilty there?

Also, should the fact that the home has PB piping have been disclosed to her by the home inspector?

Anybody else have any ideas as to where she can turn for helP???
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FarmerJ]

Wendy I think her best shot is to speak with a realestate atty about the lack of disclosure. If the leak is just a pinch clamp that failed the good news is that the pinch clamp fitting can be removed and regular compression style fittings will work to stop the leak. If the leak is the line itself having erroded ( chlorinated city water ? ) then its going to be a bigger job. BTW if its just one fitting that is leaking like under a sink, Wendy go to a hard ware store and ask them to show you how to replace it with standard compression fitting )

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state? CA

Sorry if this is not the correct place to file this.

My mother purchased a used mobilehome in June, 2005. The mobilehome was built in 1981. Before purchase, she had a home inspection done.

Yesterday, she sprung a leak and found that like so many other homeowners, her home has polybutylene piping.

Her plumber has told her that she needs to have the entire home re-piped and it's going to cost a fortune, which she doesn't have. She is disabled, lives on $900 per month and does not have enough savings for such a big repair.

My research reveals that there was a class action lawsuit settled several years ago, but according to the guidelines, the claim would have had to have been made before 1991 (10 years after initial installation) so I don't think she'd qualify.

Here are my questions:
The previous owner obviously had a leak before (according to the plumber that came out today). This was never disclosed to her. Is there any liabilty there?

Also, should the fact that the home has PB piping have been disclosed to her by the home inspector?

Anybody else have any ideas as to where she can turn for helP???
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

**A: both the Seller and the home inspector should have disclosed the faulty piping material.

 

[LindaP777]

I agree with HG.
OP, what did the home inspector say when you called him with your findings?
Call me crazy, but re-plumbing a mobile home will not cost a fortune. (Although it is a matter of perspective . . .)

 

[FarmerJ]

Linda your not crazy, Replumbing them, the worst of it is done from under the house. Its more work to close up the underside to protect the pipes from the elements than anything else.

 

[wendys8861]

I agree with HG.
OP, what did the home inspector say when you called him with your findings?
Call me crazy, but re-plumbing a mobile home will not cost a fortune. (Although it is a matter of perspective . . .)

Linda,

You are correct, it is a matter of perspective, but I guess for a person who is living at poverty level and who is disabled and has many medical bills, any added unncessary expense can appear to be astronomical!

I have not contacted the inspector who inspected the property yet.

From the impression I get from you guys, it sounds like it's not going to be as difficult a job as previously thought, considering the easy access to the underside of the trailer. I hope this is the case. I will contact a couple of plumbing contractors and see what kind of estimates they can provide me with.

Thanks again for everyone's response.

Wendys8861

 

[FarmerJ]

Wendy it mostly depends on what is leaking, seriously if its just pinch connectors , they can be repaired with compression fittings , years ago I recall reading that some people had problems with city water being so chlorinated that the lines were destroyed from the inside out. If the mobile home park is on a private well then chlorination may not be a issue. Its a shame one of your family , extended family members cannot do this repair.

 

[HomeGuru]

I agree with HG.
OP, what did the home inspector say when you called him with your findings?
Call me crazy, but re-plumbing a mobile home will not cost a fortune. (Although it is a matter of perspective . . .)

**A: I agree with the perspective.