With the prevalence of PVC drain piping many people do not realize that there is still is a good deal of cast iron drain piping in homes. This is especially true for areas of the country with older homes, such as the Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York areas.
I am not a fan of replacing materials just because they are old or there is a newer replacement product. Some may say that I am hanging on to obsolete technology, but if it is not broke, why fix it?
There does come a time to replace your cast iron drains with PVC, and sometimes it is very evident when that time has come.
If you have cast iron piping in your home a visual inspection will give you a good idea of the condition of your piping. There are several things for a homeowner to look for when inspecting.
1. Look to see if there are any wet spots on the piping. Many times there will be a build up of rust that has a drip coming off of it, like a stalactite in a cave. If you see these spots on any cast iron drains it is time to look at replacement.
2. The obvious large crack. These are usually from stress on the pipe. A crack like this will be about 1/8″ to ¼” wide, these will allow water out in large quantities, but they may be located in such a place that a homeowner may not see it. When looking at the piping use a mirror or feel any spots that you cannot see.
3. There are small hairline cracks that occur on cast iron piping. These are hard to find many times, but with the aid of a mirror you can find any that may be on your piping. Many times these will not be leaking, but eventually the crack will open up and allow water out.
Any drain with a crack, leaking or not, needs to be replaced immediately.
4. Rust and corrosion. Cast iron has been tar coated for many years, and this keeps the cast from corroding. Decades ago it was not tar coated, so there is a lot of cast iron out there that is rusty, but in good condition. If you find rust or corrosion, use a wire brush to clean off any build up, if the build up returns or the area is wet, then it is time for replacement.
5. If you have a section of older cast iron drain that has been left in place between newer sections of PVC, then I would consider replacing the section. I have found that this is where drain clogs can occur.
6. Check the condition, not so much the ugliness of the pipe. Does it appear to be in poor condition? Is it wet? Crusty? These are the problem areas.
If you think that a cast iron drain is in need of replacement or you are not sure than call a reliable, licensed plumber to take a look. I would always go on the side of caution, if the pipe is in poor condition, but not leaking, I would replace it, sooner than later it will leak.
