need plumber advice

[Ace Gunner]

have a 4 story apt building I'm restoring, place was built 1920's.

has 4" cast iron drains and one section is cracked, has been a long long time and I have repaired truss damage already. the crack is in one section of cast iron, runs near the length of it or about 6 feet, but I can see where each end of the crack is. the crack is less than eighth inch in the middle, tapers off to each end.

I already have a plumber lined up, but it would be great if I could buy a few months repair on this.

I have a gallon of henry's roof repair and well, I'm thinking it could do the trick. maybe brush the area and goop it.

what say you -- plumber extraordinaire? will it be good for a few months or ???

[milkman]

Duct tape.

[Ace Gunner]

thought of that. you tried it before in similar sitch?

[mikeyis4dcats.]

go rent a cast iron pipe cutter, cut out the section, replace it with schedule 40 PVC and rubber pipe couplings.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by chiefsfootballfan

thought of that. you tried it before in similar sitch?

I have no idea.

Don't know plumbing.

Duct tape was a joke.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by chiefsfootballfan

have a 4 story apt building I'm restoring, place was built 1920's.

has 4" cast iron drains and one section is cracked, has been a long long time and I have repaired truss damage already. the crack is in one section of cast iron, runs near the length of it or about 6 feet, but I can see where each end of the crack is. the crack is less than eighth inch in the middle, tapers off to each end.

I already have a plumber lined up, but it would be great if I could buy a few months repair on this.

I have a gallon of henry's roof repair and well, I'm thinking it could do the trick. maybe brush the area and goop it.

what say you -- plumber extraordinaire? will it be good for a few months or ???

If you were renting the apt. below the SEWER leak, would you be ok with an ammaturish attempt at the repair? Let your Plumber fix it RIGHT!

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

go rent a cast iron pipe cutter, cut out the section, replace it with schedule 40 PVC and rubber pipe couplings.

well, that's what the plumber wants to do. If that's the only alternative, I'll let him handle it. we discussed details, the section is in the second floor and that leaves 2 floor's length of 4" cast iron above the cut, which is a lot of weight. he said there is some shoddy plumber work here, so it's possible those sections above could be poorly supported and that can be dangerous to deal with if you don't know what you are doing.

that's really a problem I'm having here, is this building is tall and everything seems to be a zillion times harder to work on.

[Halfcan]

Yep I need a new castiron drain on my house as well. Probably will be expensive?

I used the Shark Bite system and replaced most of the other plumbing. The stuff is pricey but sure beats using copper!!

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by chiefsfootballfan

well, that's what the plumber wants to do. If that's the only alternative, I'll let him handle it. we discussed details, the section is in the second floor and that leaves 2 floor's length of 4" cast iron above the cut, which is a lot of weight. he said there is some shoddy plumber work here, so it's possible those sections above could be poorly supported and that can be dangerous to deal with if you don't know what you are doing.

that's really a problem I'm having here, is this building is tall and everything seems to be a zillion times harder to work on.

He can add extra support where needed (where vertical meets horizontal). No excuses. Spend the $ & fix it right

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Flachief58

If you were renting the apt. below the SEWER leak, would you be ok with an ammaturish attempt at the repair? Let your Plumber fix it RIGHT!

I'm working my way down the building -- the upper apts are rented and the lowers are yet to be renovated. so, this section is already open wall etc and it won't effect the tenants. it hasn't really, the leakage is minimal considering the size of the crack.

the plumber wants the water off 48 hours before he works it and that means I have to put up $ for motels etc.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Yep I need a new castiron drain on my house as well. Probably will be expensive?

I used the Shark Bite system and replaced most of the other plumbing. The stuff is pricey but sure beats using copper!!

Until the hot water starts to harden the rubber o-rings in them and as a result your house gets flooded

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Yep I need a new castiron drain on my house as well. Probably will be expensive?

I used the Shark Bite system and replaced most of the other plumbing. The stuff is pricey but sure beats using copper!!

yes, I did the same here. pex/shark bite all over, and of course, the drains were left untouched. the plumber actually found this when he was running shark bite in the basement for outdoor spigots.

fyi this is going to cost me about a grand.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by chiefsfootballfan

yes, I did the same here. pex/shark bite all over, and of course, the drains were left untouched. the plumber actually found this when he was running shark bite in the basement for outdoor spigots.

fyi this is going to cost me about a grand.

dang-yep figured it would be pricy to take the entire stack out and just do New drains all the way. It needs it though.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Flachief58

Until the hot water starts to harden the rubber o-rings in them and as a result your house gets flooded

wow never heard of that

[bevischief]

Nuke from orbit, it is the only way to be sure.