What type of material has been introduced into residential properties due to the expense of copper water lines?

The shift toward using polybutylene in residential plumbing systems is primarily attributed to the high costs associated with copper water lines. Polybutylene is a type of plastic that was widely adopted in the late 1970s through the 1990s because it is relatively inexpensive, flexible, and easy to install compared to copper.

During that period, home builders and contractors sought to reduce material costs, which made polybutylene an appealing alternative. While it has been shown that polybutylene can be prone to failure and leaks over time, many homes were constructed with this material in response to the financial burden that copper piping presented.

Other options, such as PVC and PEX, also offer their own sets of advantages but were not the predominant material introduced in place of copper during that specific era. PVC is commonly used for drainage and non-potable applications, while PEX has gained popularity more recently for its ease of installation and resistance to freezing, but it did not replace copper until after concerns over polybutylene came to light. Galvanized steel was historically used but is generally considered outdated now.