what does replacing a waste pipe entail?
@jhcovert – Could you recommend your GC? I’m at rebecca dot stubbs at gmail. Would REALLY appreciate it. Thank you!
Guest User | 5 years and 11 months ago
46
Please log in, in order to post replies!
46 replies
kms_bkyn | 6 years ago
hi all — Our 110 year old waste pipe has a crack in it. The crack is in our cellar. Before I start calling plumbers and contractors to fix it, I’d love to know what the process of replacing the pipe entails – how long does it take, ballpark of how much it will cost, do we need to replace the whole thing (cellar, first floor and second floor), or can we just replace the piece in the basement for now? Thanks for any
yudashasom | 6 years ago
See if you can get away with replacing just the broken section. Replacing the whole stack would be a massive project. Many walls, ceilings and possibly bathroom tile will need to be opened up.
yudashasom | 6 years ago
I should add, once they start working on a section, assuming it’s hub pipe – there’s a good change the stack will shift or crack. So be prepared for the worst.
There’s too many variables to give a good ballpark. Replacing a section in the cellar, maybe $1,000. If the whole stack needs to be replaced, $20k minimum with the finish work involved.
stevecym | 6 years ago
i took care of an older building once some years ago and what we found was that if one section of pipe went, soon enough another nearby section would go. you also mention that this is cracked and I am wondering if something brought that on. either way, if a plumber suggests changing a few sections, do it. I have a damaged pipe (not waste but steam) in my own house and being a contractor and knowing the risks, I took a welder and plug welded the hole in it; this kind of repair would never pass muster with a pro in a customer’s house and I know if I had consulted a plumber he would have said replace the entire run back to the boiler; it is the correct way to do things and once they are on the job a couple more 8′ sections of pipe are not going to triple the price.
you ask about the riser. I am not a plumber, but I am going to guess that it will not have to be replaced. just the horizontal sections.
let’s wait and see what some other homeowners or better yet a pro says.
daveinbedstuy | 6 years ago
If it’s just a crack, it can be patched. “Marine weld,” “Water Weld” and a few brands of wraps that all work. Otherwise, any section of any pipe can be cut out and replaced.
cate | 6 years ago
We had a cracked waste pipe in the cellar 10 years ago, fixed it then for about $1,000 as no-permitz estimates — the plumbers cut out the cracked part — stretched about half the width of the house — and never had another problem with any of the waste pipes throughout the house.
Guest User | 6 years ago
Welding can be done.
Master Plvmber | 6 years ago
110 years ago, Waste piping was cast iron hub-and-spigot pipe sold in 10’and 5′ sections. Most often, the broken sections can be replaced without disturbing the good sections and then they are joined with no-hub couplings of one type or another.
stevecym | 6 years ago
Marjorie: I am not sure if waste pipe is ok to weld. as I said in my post, I welded steam pipe but that is a mild steel. I think waste pipe is cast iron and that is problematic.
stevecym | 6 years ago
i like to hear what master plumber would say about my welding steam pipe. contractors do things in their own homes that they would never do elsewhere.
daveinbedstuy | 6 years ago
> @stevecym
> contractors do things in their own homes that they would never do elsewhere.
I suspect most people do. LOL
stevecym | 6 years ago
dibs, right but contractors tend to know the risks and still proceed.
tsgrlc | 6 years ago
If a plumber comes in, to replace a section they will cut it out with a reciprocating saw, then use rubber collars to connect a new section of pipe to the old pipes. If the section of pipe is straight and easily accessible this can be a 30 minute job. But plumbers won’t come out for less than $600.
I noticed many plumbers use reciprocating saws (“SawzAlls”) to cut the pipe. The vibrating action of the SawzAll can cause other sections to crack. A specialized cast iron pipe chain wrench or an angle grinder with a diamond blade don’t vibrate and yield much better results, in my experience. A lot of plumbers who use SawzAlls to cut cast iron don’t care because, hey, if the pipe cracks, that’s more work for them.
I agree with the “WaterWeld” suggestion. The stuff really works. I’ve used it to patch up pipes that would be a real pain to replace until I had time to swap them out, and it’s lasted as long as 5 years without any leaks. And it’s super-easy to apply . Still, it’s not as permanent a solution as replacing the pipe because it’s likely the pipe will spring a leak somewhere else in the next few years.
tsgrlc | 6 years ago
stevecym: my dad is a master welder and he agrees with you. he’s welded black iron steam pipes, and even those are a pain to weld. cast iron is a whole other story. it’s a notorious pain in the ass to weld even if the cast iron is clean and rust-free. now imagine welding a rusted out 100-year-old sewer pipe! just the process of cleaning it before welding is likely to cause the thing to disintegrate.
Master Plvmber | 6 years ago
I started writing a list of reasons why welding the pipe is a bad idea but I just don’t have the time. Practically speaking, it can’t be welded, and it’s not the way to handle it anyway. A skilled plumber will remove the bad section of pipe using whatever method deemed most appropriate. Among these are, yes, “sawzall”, ratchet cutter (which is what I assume edg2103 is calling a “chain wrench”), a grinding wheel, or perhaps melt out the lead from the original joints which causes the least vibration to the rest of the line.
tsgrlc | 6 years ago
MasterPlvmber: Yes, I was referring to the ratchet cutter.
Obviously I’m an amateur, but everything I wrote above came from the experience of having to gradually replace 100% of the 130-yr-old cast iron soil pipes in my house. At first I called plumbers and watched them do it, but eventually I started handling it myself and don’t regret it one bit!
stevecym | 6 years ago
edge2013: a little back story here and some of the readers may appreciate this a lot of them seem to have an appreciation for history. I inherited an antique stationary farm engine that has been in my family for a century. they had giant saw that goes with it and they used it to cut wood. unfortunately my great uncle ran the engine without putting water in the water jacket and he cracked the cylinder. the block appears to be cast iron. the crack is hairline and the engine still runs, but pulls water into the cylinder when I put water in the jacket. the engine (Fairbanks morse) is financially not worth the effort but because it was my great grandfather’s, I wish to keep it. I have been asking everyone who knows anything about welding cast iron if there is a way to fix this and they shy away from the discussion as soon as I mention the welding part.
tsgrlc | 6 years ago
stevecym: Absolutely. It can be done, but it’s not easy. Your best bet is to make friends with a master welder and call in a favor. You’ll find someone eventually.
My house came with some beautiful Eastlake door hinges, many of which had cracked into pieces from abuse. My father was able to weld them so I couldn’t even see the welding joint. I showed them to another welder I knew and he couldn’t believe it.
daveinbedstuy | 5 years and 11 months ago
edg2103…if more young kids pursued a trade like welding they’d be far better off than wasting a lot of money on a superfluous college major. We would likely suffer a barista shortage though