Yellow Brass FAQs
What problems are associated with yellow-brass fittings and components?
The PEX plumbing systems are for residential use and have been widely used throughout the United States. These plumbing systems consist of plastic pipes and brass fittings. Only the brass fittings used to connect PEX pipe and the components installed as part of the PEX plumbing systems are the subject of these claims. These homeowners allege that high zinc, yellow-brass fittings and components are defective because they dezincify.
Photo Gallery
Dezincification is a process whereby zinc leaches from brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, thereby creating a white powdery buildup on the inside of the fitting and a weakening of the brass fitting. Dezincification can lead to, among other things, restricted water flow and an increased likelihood of the brass fitting leaking or breaking.
What is the claims process?
Nevada law has established a process which must be followed to pursue claims against your home's builder and plumber. You, or someone on your behalf, must first provide notice to your home's builder. Once that notice is received, the builder and plumber have a total of 105 days to inspect and conduct repairs to your home. If you receive a notice from your home's builder advising that someone has made a claim on your behalf, you have the right and should immediately request an inspection of your home. Experts retained on behalf of various homeowners have alleged the only proper method to repair these defective plumbing systems is to replace the entire system. This would include all pipes, fittings, shut-off valves and other components installed in connection with your home's PEX plumbing systems.
Do these allegations involve personal injury claims?
These claims do not involve claims for personal injury. If you have any reason to believe that you have suffered any adverse health effects because of these yellow-brass fittings and components, you should contact a health professional.
How do I find out whether I have a PEX plumbing system in my home?
 A home plumbed with a PEX plumbing system may have a yellow or neon sticker on the inside panel of its electrical box. However, before you check, please be sure that you have experience with the location and safe use of your home’s electrical panel box. The purpose of these stickers is to alert electricians regarding proper electrical grounding procedures for nonmetallic plumbing. Often, homes with a plastic PEX plumbing system will have stickers such as the one to the right. Thus, if you find such a sticker in your electrical panel box, it is likely that your home contains a plastic PEX plumbing system which contains yellow-brass fittings and components.
Please note however that many homes that contain a yellow-brass plumbing system do not have stickers in their electrical panel boxes. Thus, if your electrical panel box does not reveal a sticker indicating that a PEX plumbing system was installed in your home, you may need to have your home inspected to determine the type of plumbing installed in your home.
As a claimant, am I responsible for attorney’s fees and costs?
Counsel are pursuing claims under Chapter 40 of the Nevada Revised Statutes against certain builders of homes with PEX plumbing systems which contain high zinc, yellow-brass fittings and components. Chapter 40 is Nevada’s law regarding construction defects. Under Chapter 40, attorney’s fees for construction defects do not come out of the repair money paid to the homeowners by builders. Therefore, if counsel is successful in obtaining repairs or compensation for homeowners through Chapter 40, their attorney’s fees will be paid directly by the builder which carries out the repair. In pursuing claims against your home's builder, plumber and other parties, the builder and its subcontractors responsible for the defective plumbing systems and components are responsible for any experts fees, investigative and litigation costs which may be incurred on your behalf.
Should your case be certified by the court as a class action lawsuit, attorney’s fees and costs must be approved as fair and reasonable by the court, subject to both notice and comment to all class members. Therefore, under such circumstance, class counsel will not receive their attorney’s fees or their costs in this litigation unless a Court first approves them as fair and reasonable.
If my home has yellow-brass fittings and components, what are my repair options?
It is believed that the only adequate repair method is a complete re-plumb of both the hot and cold water lines of your home. Generally, a full re-plumb takes approximately five (5) days for most homes to be completed and does not require relocation.
If you decide to re-plumb your home at your own expense prior to the final resolution of the claims process or litigation, you may consider doing so, however, we would ask that counsel be notified of any anticipated repairs.
What do I do if I have a leak?
Treat it as you would any other leak, including taking steps to minimize any damage and contacting your homeowner's insurance carrier. If a leak occurs, immediately notify your plumber to stop the leak and to minimize any damage to your home. If a repair is required, keep all receipts and documentation of the repair. Please make sure to keep any fittings, pipe or plumbing components that must be removed to carry out the repair. Thereafter, please notify counsel so that we can also keep a record of your leak and repair.
What if I am contacted by my home’s builder?
Under the provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 40, the builder may, but is not required to, send a notice to potentially affected homeowners requesting the opportunity to inspect your home. Counsel encourages you to respond to your home’s builder and request the inspection. We also ask that you notify our offices of the contact by your home’s builder. |
