Kitec Plumbing in Ontario Homes
Kitec was a plastic and aluminium pipe system installed in many Ontario homes from the mid-1990s until the late 2000s. It has a known history of failure, and owners deserve the facts.
- Plain steps you can follow before calling
- What to check, what to leave alone
- When the job needs a plumber
- Milton water, weather and housing in mind
- Licensed plumbing trade
- Booked around your day
- Price agreed before work
- Phone only, no forms
2 minute read
Written for Milton homeowners doing the first look themselves.
Have handy
- Flashlight and a bucket
- Rags or old towels
- Your main shut-off located
Stop and call when
A ceiling is dripping, a drain is pushing sewage back up, or you smell gas.
What Kitec is
Kitec was a composite pipe, a layer of aluminium between layers of plastic, joined with brass fittings. It was used for hot and cold supply lines and sometimes for in-floor heating. It was easy to install and widely used in houses and condominiums built roughly between 1995 and 2007.
The problem
Over time, some brass fittings used with the system were found to break down in a process called dezincification, which weakens the fitting and can lead to leaks or sudden failure. The pipe itself could also degrade under high temperature and pressure. A class action settlement in North America addressed claims; check its current status and terms rather than relying on old summaries.
How to spot it
- Bright orange pipe on hot lines and blue pipe on cold lines.
- Printed markings along the pipe with the Kitec name or related brand names.
- Brass fittings, sometimes with a white or green crust.
- Check near the water heater, under sinks and at the main valve.
Plain fact: not every orange pipe is Kitec. Look for the printed markings before drawing conclusions.
What to do if you have it
- Do not panic. Many systems last a long time, but the risk is real.
- Lower the water heater setting moderately to reduce heat stress.
- Check fittings for crust, corrosion or weeping.
- Contact your insurer; some limit coverage or require replacement.
- Plan replacement at a time that suits you, rather than after a failure.
Replacement
Replacing Kitec means running new supply lines, usually PEX, to every fixture and removing or abandoning the old pipe. It is the same work as a repipe, described on our repiping page. Owners in areas such as Meadowvale with homes from that era often ask us to check. If you also notice slow drains, see kitchen drain cleaning; that is a separate issue.
Questions we get asked
Should Kitec worry me?
It does not affect water safety, but fitting failures can cause sudden leaks and water damage.
Will my insurance cover a house with Kitec?
Some insurers limit coverage or ask for replacement. Check with yours.
Can you replace only the fittings?
Partial repairs are possible, but full replacement is the lasting answer.