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 Mobile ViewPLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AGE of CHIMNEYS & FIREPLACES AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AGE of FOUNDATION MATERIALS AGE of FRAMING MATERIALS AGE of FLOORING MATERIALS AGE of ELECTRICAL WIRING AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES AGE of WATER HEATERS AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES AIR INLET VALVE, WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK ANTI SCALD VALVES ANTI SCALD VALVE PROTECTION, Best Practices ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BACKFLOW PREVENTER, HEATER WATER FEEDER BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM MOLD BATHROOM VENTILATION BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS Bisphenol-A, BPA BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS BOILERS, HEATING BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DEPTH of DRAIN & SEWER PIPES DEPTH of SEPTIC TANK DRAIN & SEWER PIPING DRAIN LINE DEPTH DRAIN NOISES DRAIN a WATER HEATER TANK DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES DRYER VENTING ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS FILTERS, WATER FLARE FITTINGS FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION HARD WATER - SOFTENERS HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up HOT WATER HEATERS KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE KITCHEN VENTILATION LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC METHANE GAS SOURCES MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MIX VALVE SCALD PROTECTION, Best Practices MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS MOLD INFORMATION CENTER MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN DIAGNOSIS NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST NOISE, WATER HEATER NOISES, WATER PUMP ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS IN WATER ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS SEWER GAS in COLD WEATHER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES ODORS, URINE REMOVAL OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS OIL-FIRED BOILERS, HEATING OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS OIL & GAS PIPING OIL TANKS OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types AGE OF PIPING AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES BRASS WATER PIPES CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMPRESSION FITTINGS COPPER PIPING in buildings CLEANOUTS, PLUMBING DRAIN CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS DRAIN & SEWER PIPING CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR COPPER PIPING in buildings DRAIN LINE DEPTH DRAIN NOISES FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES LEAD PIPES in buildings PLUMBING DRAIN CLEANOUTS PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST PLUMBING NOISE CONTROL SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE LEAKS & ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING TRAPS on DRAINS VENT PIPING SUPPLY PIPING PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH Plumbing Materials & Fixtures, Age, Types PUMPS & WELLS RANGE BOILERS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL TANKLESS COILS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS Temperature Pressure Relief Valves - Water Heaters TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES WATER HEATERS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER PUMPS & TANKS WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP & WATER TANK REPAIRS WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
Cast iron plumbing drain piping: this article lists our in-depth articles on inspecting, testing, and repairing problems with cast iron building plumbing drain waste vent piping, piping materials, clogged or noisy pipes, and types of pipe hazards or product defects. The articles at this website will answer most questions about water supply & drain piping of all materials and types. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Cast Iron Building Drain Piping: Identification, Diagnosis, Repair
Making New Drain Connections to Old Cast Iron Drain PipingOur photograph of cast iron drain piping (below left) demonstrates two methods by which connections have been made to newer copper drain lines. At upper left a black plastic hub fitting has been used to connect the 4" copper drain to the cast iron drain line. At center-right in the left-hand photo a questionable clamp-on type fitting has been used for the same purpose, including a makeshift clamp using a block of wood to accommodate use of the wrong-sized clamp around the cast iron drain. Stains on the upper section of piping indicate that this drain system has been leaking. Our photograph at below-right shows three clamp-on connectors joining cast iron and plastic drains to the cast iron sewer line.
Cast Iron Drain Piping Leak & Odor Locations, Causes, DiagnosisOur photograph (below left) shows an odd double-hub connection on a vertical section of cast iron drain piping in a 1935-built home in poughkeepsie, NY. You can see by the rust stains that this cast iron pipe joint has been leaking for some time, that the concrete "repair" action was not fully effective, and that the basement is exposed to unsanitary conditions due to sewage leakage. Our second cast iron drain leak photograph (below right) shows a different type of drain pipe leak: sewer gases. This fitting and collection of galvanized iron elbows and nipples should be removed and the opening in the vertical cast iron drain plugged to stop potentially dangerous sewer gases from entering the building. We suspect that this drain was once used to receive water from a basement dehumidifier or water softener, but it is no longer in use. The dry "trap" formed at the bottom of the piping "U" no longer serves to keep sewer gases out of the building. Watch out: sewer gases may be both unsanitary and also risk of a very serious methane gas explosion. See SEWER GAS ODORS.
Several types of leaks occur in Cast Iron Piping:
Cast Iron Drain Pipe Leak & Repair Case - Odors Lead to Discovery of Under-Floor Drain Leaks
Often on city lots that are flat and poorly drained, builders or building owners were pressed to decide how to get rid of rainwater spilling off of building roofs and through the gutter and downspout system. The best approach is to route these drains to a nearby city storm drain, pumping if necessary but best by gravity. This avoids overloading the city sewer system during periods of heavy rainfall. Our photograph (left) shows a New York City storm drain overflow station (officially, a: New York State Wet Weather Discharge Point) where excess drainage is dumped into the Hudson River when more water or wastewater enters the city sewer system than can be handled. The green sign atop this drain warns If you see a discharge during dry weather, please call 311 - DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). Overloading a city's sewer often means that raw sewage is simply overflowed or dumped into local rivers or streams.
Our photo (left) shows an in-basement cast iron drain line that originally received outside gutter/downspout drain water. At the time of our inspection that system had been changed and downspouts were routed to above-ground drains (unfortunately still too close to the building to assure a dry basement). A problem with the in-building, under-floor piping disposal of roof runoff, besides overloading the city sewers in wet weather, is that eventually the under-floor drain may become clogged, perhaps with leaves washing into the drain from the building's gutters. The best result of that problem is that the drain stops draining and gutters spill outdoors along the foundation, perhaps leading to basement water entry, rot, mold, and insect damage. Still more troubling, a blocked under-floor drain in a building left with no heat sometimes led to frozen drain pipes and burst, heaved piping and floor damage in the building, followed by an in-building flood when freezing weather changed to a thaw. If you have roof gutters connected to drains that enter the building and are routed to the sewers, (a step still permitted and even required in a few communities), reconnecting the drains from outside ground-level to a nearby storm drain may be a better approach. Tracking Down Leaky Cast Iron Drain Pipes Under a Floor Slab that Sent Sewer Gases into Transite (Asbestos Cement) HVAC DuctsDetails of this sewer gas odor case, cast iron drain leak, and repair are at CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR. Excerpts are below. A reader (Conrad) provided us with the photographs and case history of the successful track-down of sewer gas odors in a building (SEWER GAS ODORS). The case began with a complaint of sewer gas odors in the building's heating duct work system. Details about the case illustrated just below, including more pictures and notes on how the building owner tracked the sewer smell to the basement floor slab (and transite heating ducts in the slab) can be read at CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR.
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