ADEAR JIM: The choice to replace or disclose polybutylene pipes when marketing a home involves two concerns: the defect issues with the pipes themselves and the needs of individual home buyers.

Polybutylene is commonly recognized by home inspectors and plumbers as substandard water pipe material because the lines are prone to cracking, and the connections often leak.

The cause? A burst polybutylene pipe—a failure-prone plastic used in millions of homes built between the late 1970s and mid-1990s. The couple quickly contacted ServiceMaster for help.

If you have polybutylene pipes that have leaked, so can you. "Ninety percent of our business is polybutylene pipe replacement," says Ken O'Neill, who manages Plumbing Express in Raleigh.