If your Oakville home was built between 1995 and 2007, there’s a real chance it still has Kitec plumbing. And if it does, you need to know about it — because Kitec is one of the most serious plumbing risks in the GTA right now. Here’s everything Oakville homeowners need to understand about Kitec in 2026.
What Is Kitec Plumbing?
Kitec is a type of flexible piping that was widely used in new construction throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was popular because it was cheaper and faster to install than copper. The pipes were typically coloured orange (for hot water) and blue (for cold water) and used brass fittings. It was sold under several brand names including Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA, WarmRite, and Ambiocomfort.
The problem? The brass fittings that connect Kitec pipes are made with a high zinc content, which causes them to corrode and fail — often suddenly, and without warning. When they fail, they fail fast, flooding the surrounding area within minutes.
Is Your Oakville Home at Risk?
Kitec was installed extensively in Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, and Milton from about 1995 to 2007. If your home was built during this period, here’s how to check:
- Look under sinks and behind your water heater for orange and blue flexible piping
- Check your electrical panel area — Kitec is often routed near the furnace and hot water tank
- Look for the brand names stamped on the pipe itself
- Check your home inspection report if you have one
If you’re not sure, a licensed Oakville plumber can do a quick inspection and confirm whether Kitec is present in your home.
What Happens If Kitec Fails?
Kitec failures are not slow leaks — they’re sudden bursts. The zinc in the fittings breaks down over time through a process called dezincification, which causes the brass to weaken and eventually crack. When a fitting fails, you can lose thousands of litres of water in a very short time. In many Oakville homes, Kitec is routed through finished basements and inside walls, meaning significant structural and drywall damage is common when it fails.
Does Home Insurance Cover Kitec Damage?
This is where it gets serious. Many Ontario home insurance providers have either excluded Kitec water damage from coverage, or will cancel your policy when they discover you have it. If you’re selling your Oakville home, you are required to disclose the presence of Kitec to the buyer. It can affect your asking price and your ability to close the deal.
The good news: a completed Kitec replacement can typically restore your full insurance coverage and may increase your home’s resale value.
How Much Does Kitec Replacement Cost in Oakville?
Kitec replacement cost depends on the size of your home and how much of the system needs to be replaced. In our experience serving Oakville homes, a full Kitec replacement in a typical detached home runs between $3,500 and $8,000, depending on accessibility and whether drywall repair is needed. ProResults Plumbing provides written quotes before any work begins — no surprises.
Why Act Now?
In 2026, Kitec pipes installed in the mid-1990s are now approaching 30 years old. The fittings degrade on a timeline, and many are now at or past the point of failure risk. Every year you wait increases the chance of an unexpected burst. The cost of a Kitec failure — emergency water cleanup, drywall repair, flooring replacement, and insurance complications — can easily reach $20,000 to $50,000 or more.
Replacing it proactively is almost always far cheaper than dealing with the aftermath.
ProResults Plumbing: Oakville’s Kitec Replacement Specialists
Our team has completed Kitec replacements in hundreds of Oakville, Burlington, and Mississauga homes. We use PEX-A piping — the current industry standard — which is flexible, freeze-resistant, and carries a 25-year warranty. We work efficiently to minimize disruption to your home and can typically complete a full replacement in one to two days.
Still have questions about Kitec? Read our Plumbing FAQ or visit our dedicated Kitec Replacement service page for more details. To book a free assessment, contact ProResults Plumbing or call (905) 336-8706.