Ever seen cast iron pipe split like this?

[ramonesfreak]

A blockage in my main drain line out on Friday under basement floor lead to 48 hours of attempting to clear it. This morning I noticed a wet spot on carpet after trying to flush pipe with hot water. Pulled up carpet and found water seeping up through concrete. Uh oh. Busted through concrete and found a section of cast iron pipe split lengthwise. Split has obviously been there a very long time..split was at the bottom of the pipe

These three pieces were one piece before cutting. I’m baffled how this split could happen

Color is blue because this happened in my man cave music studio :-)








What a pain in the ass. I hate plumbing issues. Disgusting and exhausting.

[oldE]

Weakened by corrosion.
Wait until you see an iron pipe eroded by high pressure steam.

Best
Les

[ramonesfreak]

Oh if you rent a 50’ snake/auger from Home Depot or anywhere make sure it works before you take it home. Got it to my basement -heavy- and the cable was bent in 5 places. Someone mangled it and returned it without saying anything. Had to go all the way back and get another one. Down stairs, up stairs, down stairs, up stairs…lift into vehicle. 2nd one cleared it but much time and energy wasted

[stevej37]

I wonder if at some time the temp was below freezing?
I have cast iron fittings for the toilets and drain in the basement that are at least 70 years old and still look excellent.

[URY914]

Seen the bottom of a cast iron pipe missing several times. Common in commercial kitchen renovations. Grease/fats/caustic chemicals will eat thru the pipe over time. People don't believe it until they see it.

[GH85Carrera]

At my old bachelor pad house, built in the early 1950s, it had drain pipes bade of lead! Even in the 80s it was like asking for a flux capacitor to find a connector or adapter.

I finally had to hire a professional plumber to replace the toilet downpipe and mount for the toilet itself.

Cast iron was thought to be a "forever" solution back then. Much like PEX is now. I just wonder how long PEX and PVC plumbing will really last.

[VenezianBlau 87]

You're an adventurous DIY'er...no way I'd tackle that

[stevej37]

^^^ Yep..finding conversion fittings from cast iron to 'anything else' will be fun.
It can be done with the rubber conversions with clamps at both ends.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by VenezianBlau 87

You're an adventurous DIY'er...no way I'd tackle that

Every plumber I called this morning said no, next week, or (rotor rooter) never called me back. Having the only exit out of the house blocked can’t wait. My wife gave me hell that it wasnt fixed Friday before she got home from work. Thank god the toilet pipe meets up a little down stream from the blockage. Had that happen once. Not fun

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I wonder if at some time the temp was below freezing?
I have cast iron fittings for the toilets and drain in the basement that are at least 70 years old and still look excellent.

My house is 72 years old. Whether that pipe is original I don’t know. It was clear when I got the carpet up that the area around the pipe had been accessed before unless they built houses like that back then…..leave a channel for pipe and pour concrete later?

You can see that here

[ramonesfreak]

Good only knows what’s going on with the other 50’ of pipe under the rest of the floor….

[Baz]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

---snip---
What a pain in the ass. I hate plumbing issues. Disgusting and exhausting.

LOL.....that made me laugh....so true......

Nice work on the repairs, RF!

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Yep..finding conversion fittings from cast iron to 'anything else' will be fun.
It can be done with the rubber conversions with clamps at both ends.

I use those quite a bit Steve.

Quite adaptable such as "You are going to ferkin fit!"

[stevej37]

^^^ This is the latest time I used one. Cast iron to pvc...needed an extra line to the sewer outlet. Works perfectly.

[ramonesfreak]

Tomorrow after work when I get motivated to clean up the mess, I’ll wash the sections of pipe and will inspect for better analysis and will post a photo

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

Tomorrow after work when I get motivated to clean up the mess, I’ll wash the sections of pipe and will inspect for better analysis and will post a photo

Please wash thoroughly before posting pictures!

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ This is the latest time I used one. Cast iron to pvc...needed an extra line to the sewer outlet. Works perfectly.

And it has a certain artistic merit to it too.

I used one a few weeks ago to fit an extrator fan to some 100mm pvc. A little bit of hot water and olive oil and it fits perfectly LOL

[stevej37]

^^^ Where there is a will...there is a way.

[VenezianBlau 87]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Please wash thoroughly before posting pictures!

And try not to touch your eyes/mouth much...

[URY914]

Fernco fittings are my friend...