Defective Yellow Brass Fittings
What dezincification in PEX piping means and how to respond.
What Are Yellow Brass Fittings?
Yellow brass first came on the market across the US in the late 1990s. Inferior, high-zinc yellow brass was used in connections in some PEX piping systems. These fittings are prone to dezincification, which can cause severe leaks.
Frequently Asked Questions about Yellow Brass Fittings
The defective yellow brass fittings used with PEX piping systems were made of inferior brass that had a high percentage of zinc. As water flows through the pipes, zinc leaches out of the fittings and zinc oxide, a white residue, builds up on the inside of the pipes, restricting water flow.
As the fittings corrode, they pull zinc into the water system, causing fixtures to clog. Dezincification is a form of corrosion, causing pipes to form stress fractures and, eventually, leaks.
SageWater replaces yellow brass fittings as part of our turnkey pipe replacement solution. We handle everything end-to-end and carry out the project with minimal disruption to residents and staff.
In some cases, class action settlements are available to offset project costs.
Learn more about defective yellow brass fittings.
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