wrote:
On Jun 3, 9:13?pm, slindsey3000 wrote:

Hi,

I have a cast iron soil stack that is cracked badly a length of about
5 feet. The crack goes from the top of one section to the bottom of
that section. The other sections seem fine above and below.

I would like to replace with PVC. It is a straight shot from the
basement up through the first floor and to the second story bathroom.
Ther are no other conections on first floor or basement.

The problem is BELOW where the toilet / bathtub / and bathroom sink
meet at the stack, so I just have to replace a strait length of pipe
down to the basement.

1. How do I loosen the conncetions between two pieces of cast iron so
I can take out this damaged section and the 2 sections below it. Heat
the lead and Oakum and twist the sections apart?? Will that get the
pipe sections seperated? How is it best done?

2. How do I reconnect PVC to this cast iron piece.

3. Do I need to support it from above? Can I grab ahold of the vent on
the roof with a clamp and thus support the stack above the cut?

Click here for pictures:http://trillionfive.com/plumbing.html

Any other advice!?? Thanks guys!!!


first if the cast iron carries waste water thru a living area
replacing with PVC will make water passages amazingly loud. unreal how
loud PVC is

you need to support the cast iron above and below the cut. you DONT
want anything to move and not only leak indoors but perhaps create a
roof leak, strap and support it well before beginning cast is very
heavy better safe than sorry.

you can easily use ferncos to join new PVC or cast iron lengths
together. today they use hubless cast iron, basically cast iron with
ferncos.

Cast cuts easily with a sawzall or specialized cutter, if the
balance is OK just replace the bad area.


Echoing what hallerb said.

If noise (dripping/sloshing) will be annoying,
forget the PVC. Use new hubless cast iron pipe.

You can not heat the lead out of that top hub
(without burning house down). There isn't access
above to drill it out either. Consider making a
saw cut vertically thru the bell and then splitting
it open, like a melon.

Support is vital. If the stack above shifts even
a small amount, you may disturb the bath connections
enough to have a major leak on your hands.

This is very tricky work; plan, plan, plan...

Jim