Plumbing Question - Main Sewer Line fitting stuck

[Tidybuoy]

I added a laundry room and I need to connect the washer drain to the main sewer line. There is a port in the line with a 2-3" plug on it. The pipes are cast iron and the house was built in 1949 so this pipe is old.

I can't get the plug to budge. I've used plenty of WD-40 and other products but no success.

Can I use a heat torch and heat up the outside pipe? Just wondering if there are any plumbing experts that have ideas. BTW, I'm using a 3' pipe wrench so I feel like I have plenty of leverage.

[Evans, Marv]

I'm not a plumber (disclaimer) but have dabbled in it over the years - even done work with cast iron years ago. I would imagine the plug might be bonded because of corrosion over the years. A possible solution would be to just drill/break the plug into pieces & remove them. You might be able to clean the threads enough to connect plastic fittings to it. Another possibility would be to cut the pipe (if you can get access to it) and see if there is a newer type of (compression ?) fitting to go onto the end. I'm sure plumbing companies run into this periodically & you might be able to ask what they do.

[URY914]

Picture?

[URY914]

Cut it and use a Fernco fitting to connect old/new.

https://www.fernco.com/

[dyount]

You may heat it and go... worst case is the pipe will break and you're fixing more than you thought. Possible that the plug may have been finished with lead to secure it... A sharp tool will tell you that. Or, go with Paul's answer of cutting it off and using fernco fittings to add the new drain line. BTW, make sure you've got a trap on that laundry line or you're getting sewer gas back up into the room the laundry is in.

[dyount]

Also, Marv's answer of breaking up the plug is a good go if heat doesn't get it moving... there's less chance of breaking the overall fitting

[plumb4u2]

I run into these plugs all the time and honestly I don’t waste my time anymore trying to get them out
I simply beat them with a heavy hammer and pop them out, 5 min job

[Evans, Marv]

^^^^ And Justin is a real plumber!!

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

I run into these plugs all the time and honestly I don’t waste my time anymore trying to get them out
I simply beat them with a heavy hammer and pop them out, 5 min job

When I said plug, this is not the type of plug that can be popped out, it's a very heavy duty screwed in fitting like a cleanout plug (see similar pics below).

And to the previous poster (dyount)....yes, the laundry drain has a trap installed, I now just need to connect it to the main sewer line.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by URY914

Cut it and use a Fernco fitting to connect old/new.

https://www.fernco.com/

If I can't get the plug removed this weekend, I will go the Fernco route. There's actually one of those installed at the other end of my house, ironically, on the old laundry room plumbing.

Thanks!

[philip j]

Take a drill and drill out the lead and oakum, then remove the whole CI cleanout... you can put your new connection/pipe in the hub and place a compound like PC4 around the joint. A couple hours work...

[E38Driver]

I used to work at a facility that was built in 1952 and had many old pipe issues. The one thing that I found that really worked on cast iron pipe like that was heat and paraffin wax. Heat the outside up and apply wax to the threaded plug. When you see bubbles forming around the threads you are good.
The wax acts as a lubricant on the threads and the heat expands the outer area to let the wax in.

Dave

[Scott Douglas]

We had a very similar problem with a clean out plug.
Our friendly plumber from across the street did the following to get it out.
First, he cut off the sq part of the plug which opened up a hole that was big enough for a saws all blade to get in. He then made 3 radial cuts going to just about the threads of the cast iron piece. Once those were cut he was able to knock the pieces loose and remove them. Took him all of maybe 5 minutes for the whole process, he's got a lot of experience working with old pipes.
Good luck. I like everything about the wax method except the flame for the heat part.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

We had a very similar problem with a clean out plug.
Our friendly plumber from across the street did the following to get it out.
First, he cut off the sq part of the plug which opened up a hole that was big enough for a saws all blade to get in. He then made 3 radial cuts going to just about the threads of the cast iron piece. Once those were cut he was able to knock the pieces loose and remove them. Took him all of maybe 5 minutes for the whole process, he's got a lot of experience working with old pipes.
Good luck. I like everything about the wax method except the flame for the heat part.

This is how it's done.

[Tidybuoy]

Thanks All! A lot of great tips and I think I can do this. I'll let you know on Monday.

[plumb4u2]

That plug you have pictured is the easiest of them all to pop out!! It is just a thin and soft brass plug
Beat it a few times in the center to distort it then take a large flat screw driver or chisel and tap between the brass male threads and cast iron female threads and it will pop right out