I want to replace the cast iron soil pipe in my bungalow, with PVC. The
junction for the toilet is a couple inches above ground level, and I'd
thought that I could remove the junction, clean up the socket, and seal
the PVC pipe and new junction (I want to raise it slightly) into that.

But I've realised that my soil pipe is 3 1/2" so presumably this
technique isn't going to work? Can I get an adapter - preferably via
internet or mail order somewhere?
--
Steve Loft

"Steve Loft" wrote in message
...
I want to replace the cast iron soil pipe in my bungalow, with PVC. The
junction for the toilet is a couple inches above ground level, and I'd
thought that I could remove the junction, clean up the socket, and seal
the PVC pipe and new junction (I want to raise it slightly) into that.

But I've realised that my soil pipe is 3 1/2" so presumably this
technique isn't going to work? Can I get an adapter - preferably via
internet or mail order somewhere?

Steve Loft

What else is connected to the stack. Soil pipes are normally 110 mm (4'') so
the remaining stack above the WC branch may only be venting pipe to above the
roof. That is unless you have other appliances like baths and basins connected
above the WC branch.

If there is nothing else on the stack then all you need is smaller diameter uPVC
pipe. They come in the same sizes as cast pipe so you should be able to pick it
up at B&Q.

BigWallop wrote:

What else is connected to the stack. Soil pipes are normally 110 mm (4'') so
the remaining stack above the WC branch may only be venting pipe to above the
roof. That is unless you have other appliances like baths and basins connected
above the WC branch.

There's nothing else on the stack, the bath and basin have a separate pipe.


If there is nothing else on the stack then all you need is smaller diameter uPVC
pipe. They come in the same sizes as cast pipe so you should be able to pick it
up at B&Q.

Ah, didn't realise, I thought only 110mm was available. And I was in the
Parkhead B&Q last night too. Blast.

My basic problem is that I'm replacing the WC and the outlet from the
new one will be higher than the old one - I've worked out that the
vertical distance between the centres of the outlet and the existing
soil pipe will be about 90mm, and the horizontal distance between the
ends of the pipes about 105mm. I can't seem to find a pan connector to
fit that. The flexibles ones all seem to require a minimum distance
greater than what I'll have (about 140mm in a straight line, I think).

So I thought it was probably time to replace the CI soil pipe and
connect the PVC replacement through the (wooden) wall a bit higher up to
make connection to the WC easier.
--
Steve Loft

"Steve Loft" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:

What else is connected to the stack. Soil pipes are normally 110 mm (4'')
so
the remaining stack above the WC branch may only be venting pipe to above
the
roof. That is unless you have other appliances like baths and basins
connected
above the WC branch.

There's nothing else on the stack, the bath and basin have a separate pipe.


If there is nothing else on the stack then all you need is smaller diameter
uPVC
pipe. They come in the same sizes as cast pipe so you should be able to
pick it
up at B&Q.

Ah, didn't realise, I thought only 110mm was available. And I was in the
Parkhead B&Q last night too. Blast.

My basic problem is that I'm replacing the WC and the outlet from the
new one will be higher than the old one - I've worked out that the
vertical distance between the centres of the outlet and the existing
soil pipe will be about 90mm, and the horizontal distance between the
ends of the pipes about 105mm. I can't seem to find a pan connector to
fit that. The flexibles ones all seem to require a minimum distance
greater than what I'll have (about 140mm in a straight line, I think).

So I thought it was probably time to replace the CI soil pipe and
connect the PVC replacement through the (wooden) wall a bit higher up to
make connection to the WC easier.

Steve Loft

I don't know the whole layout of where the pipes are in relation to the pan, but
there are numerous ways to take up height adjustments and length changes without
having to dig out the old pipes.

Could you describe the layout in a bit more detail please. You say the soil
pipework comes in through a wooden wall (stud partition ?), but where is this
wall in relation to the WC ? I was under the impression that the soil pipe was
outside the house, is this correct ?

In which direction does the WC face ? Does the waste outlet from the pan point
toward the outside wall and go through to the outside stack ?

More information would be most helpful please.

BigWallop wrote:


Could you describe the layout in a bit more detail please. You say the soil
pipework comes in through a wooden wall (stud partition ?), but where is this
wall in relation to the WC ? I was under the impression that the soil pipe was
outside the house, is this correct ?

The house is timber framed and timber clad, i.e. entirely 'wood' - but
the internal walls seem to be constructed of a cardboard/hardboard type
material.

The soil pipe is outside the house.


In which direction does the WC face ? Does the waste outlet from the pan point
toward the outside wall and go through to the outside stack ?


The rear of the WC points straight at the outside wall, behind which is
the soil pipe, there's a junction just above the ground outside which
branches off into the bathroom to connect to the WC. So the soil pipe is
on the other side of the wall, immediately behind the WC.

More information would be most helpful please.

The existing WC fits OK for two reasons - first, its outlet is lower
than the new one. Second, whoever installed it dug into the concrete
floor to lower it an inch or two. I guess they did this because they
were faced with the same problem as me. I want to fill the hole in the
concrete and level the floor.

So I'm faced with a drop of about 90mm between the WC outlet pipe and
the CI pipe which comes through the wall from the soil stack. In other
words, the bottom of the WC outlet pipe is 140mm off the floor, and the
bottom of the pipe coming through the wall is about 50mm off the floor.
And there's only about 105mm horizontally between the ends of the pipes,
which seems to rule out the use of a flexi pan connector. I can't bring
the WC out from the wall due to lack of space.

--
Steve Loft

"Steve Loft" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:


Could you describe the layout in a bit more detail please. You say the soil
pipework comes in through a wooden wall (stud partition ?), but where is
this
wall in relation to the WC ? I was under the impression that the soil pipe
was
outside the house, is this correct ?

The house is timber framed and timber clad, i.e. entirely 'wood' - but
the internal walls seem to be constructed of a cardboard/hardboard type
material.

The soil pipe is outside the house.


In which direction does the WC face ? Does the waste outlet from the pan
point
toward the outside wall and go through to the outside stack ?


The rear of the WC points straight at the outside wall, behind which is
the soil pipe, there's a junction just above the ground outside which
branches off into the bathroom to connect to the WC. So the soil pipe is
on the other side of the wall, immediately behind the WC.

More information would be most helpful please.

The existing WC fits OK for two reasons - first, its outlet is lower
than the new one. Second, whoever installed it dug into the concrete
floor to lower it an inch or two. I guess they did this because they
were faced with the same problem as me. I want to fill the hole in the
concrete and level the floor.

So I'm faced with a drop of about 90mm between the WC outlet pipe and
the CI pipe which comes through the wall from the soil stack. In other
words, the bottom of the WC outlet pipe is 140mm off the floor, and the
bottom of the pipe coming through the wall is about 50mm off the floor.
And there's only about 105mm horizontally between the ends of the pipes,
which seems to rule out the use of a flexi pan connector. I can't bring
the WC out from the wall due to lack of space.

Steve Loft


Brilliant Steve, that's the information I needed to know. Can you tell me how
much of the CI pipe is sticking through the wall into the bathroom please ?

Could you make the connection between them using two 90 degree bends ?

Using two of these:

http://tinyurl.co.uk/c93d (short version)

which can be cut to length so they fit together and form an "S" sort of shape
from the pan to the CI pipe may help, and be a lot cheaper.

http://www.diynot.com/shop/Plumbing/...R_90_BEND/6856 (long version)

BigWallop wrote:

Brilliant Steve, that's the information I needed to know. Can you tell me how
much of the CI pipe is sticking through the wall into the bathroom please ?

About 50mm.


Could you make the connection between them using two 90 degree bends ?

Funny, but that thought occurred to me over lunch.

Using two of these:

http://tinyurl.co.uk/c93d (short version)

which can be cut to length so they fit together and form an "S" sort of shape
from the pan to the CI pipe may help, and be a lot cheaper.

I didn't realise you could cut them to length. I'm not sure that the
four inches or so of gap which I'd have would be enough space to fit
those, though.

Would that fit into my CI pipe? I'm assuming it's 3 1/2", the same as
the soil stack.
--
Steve Loft, Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire. 1417ft ASL
http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/weather/
Free weather softwa http://cumulus.nybbles.co.uk/
Experimental webcam: http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/webcam.php

"Steve Loft" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:

Brilliant Steve, that's the information I needed to know. Can you tell me
how
much of the CI pipe is sticking through the wall into the bathroom please ?

About 50mm.


Could you make the connection between them using two 90 degree bends ?

Funny, but that thought occurred to me over lunch.

Using two of these:

http://tinyurl.co.uk/c93d (short version)

which can be cut to length so they fit together and form an "S" sort of
shape
from the pan to the CI pipe may help, and be a lot cheaper.

I didn't realise you could cut them to length. I'm not sure that the
four inches or so of gap which I'd have would be enough space to fit
those, though.

Would that fit into my CI pipe? I'm assuming it's 3 1/2", the same as
the soil stack.

Steve Loft


Are you sure that the soil stack is only 90 mm (3.5'') in diameter Steve, as
anything less than 110 mm (4'') is not allowed for solid waste soil pipes. Have
you changed the use of the room into a bathroom ? Or was the room changed
around before you moved in to the house ?

Does the original WC connect to the pipe with a normal pan connector or is it a
bodge of different sizes of pipe ?

If you see he

http://www.fascias.com/en-gb/dept_31.html

All soil pipe is made in 110 mm, but waste water pipework is made in smaller
sizes because they don't take solid waste away, only dirty water.

If the CI pipework has been used originally for a kitchen or bathroom with no WC
then it would use smaller sized pipes, and may not have had the pipework changed
when the new use of a WC was planned. This might cause problems later you know.


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BigWallop wrote:

Are you sure that the soil stack is only 90 mm (3.5'') in diameter Steve, as
anything less than 110 mm (4'') is not allowed for solid waste soil pipes. Have
you changed the use of the room into a bathroom ? Or was the room changed
around before you moved in to the house ?

The soil stack has 3 1/2" stamped on it. As far as I know, it's always
been the bathroom. The stack is abut 50 years old.

Does the original WC connect to the pipe with a normal pan connector or is it a
bodge of different sizes of pipe ?


It looks like a normal pan connector.

--
Steve Loft

"Steve Loft" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:

Are you sure that the soil stack is only 90 mm (3.5'') in diameter Steve, as
anything less than 110 mm (4'') is not allowed for solid waste soil pipes.
Have
you changed the use of the room into a bathroom ? Or was the room changed
around before you moved in to the house ?

The soil stack has 3 1/2" stamped on it. As far as I know, it's always
been the bathroom. The stack is abut 50 years old.

Does the original WC connect to the pipe with a normal pan connector or is
it a
bodge of different sizes of pipe ?


It looks like a normal pan connector.

Steve Loft


The stack above the branch for the WC might only be used as a vent, so check
that the branch and the spigot into the house isn't 110 mm (4'') before you go
buying the wrong sizes. It is common for this type of arrangement to be used is
nothing else is being connected above a ground floor loo. Does the stack also
take rain water from the roof ?

If it looks like a normal WC connector then the branch must be 110 mm (4'') or
nothing else of the modern type would fit it. If so, then you should be able to
fit two 90 degree elbow connectors into the system. The 90 degree elbows aren't
that wide on the spigot end and should take up only 100 mm or there abouts.


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BigWallop wrote:

The stack above the branch for the WC might only be used as a vent, so check
that the branch and the spigot into the house isn't 110 mm (4'') before you go
buying the wrong sizes. It is common for this type of arrangement to be used is
nothing else is being connected above a ground floor loo. Does the stack also
take rain water from the roof ?

The stack just goes up to the roof line, diverts around the roof and
then vents to the air.


If it looks like a normal WC connector then the branch must be 110 mm (4'') or
nothing else of the modern type would fit it. If so, then you should be able to
fit two 90 degree elbow connectors into the system. The 90 degree elbows aren't
that wide on the spigot end and should take up only 100 mm or there abouts.

The branch on the soil pipe has 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 stamped on it.

There's a picture of it he

http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/files/stack.jpg

and a picture of the pan connector he

http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/files/connector.jpg

--
Steve Loft

"Steve Loft" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:

The stack above the branch for the WC might only be used as a vent, so check
that the branch and the spigot into the house isn't 110 mm (4'') before you
go
buying the wrong sizes. It is common for this type of arrangement to be
used is
nothing else is being connected above a ground floor loo. Does the stack
also
take rain water from the roof ?

The stack just goes up to the roof line, diverts around the roof and
then vents to the air.


If it looks like a normal WC connector then the branch must be 110 mm (4'')
or
nothing else of the modern type would fit it. If so, then you should be
able to
fit two 90 degree elbow connectors into the system. The 90 degree elbows
aren't
that wide on the spigot end and should take up only 100 mm or there abouts.

The branch on the soil pipe has 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 stamped on it.

There's a picture of it he

http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/files/stack.jpg

and a picture of the pan connector he

http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/files/connector.jpg

Steve Loft


The internal branch looks to be lead pipe instead of cast iron so the new pan
connectors should fit inside it. Measuring the pan connectors before you buy
them would give you a better idea if two of them will make up the gap you need
to fill. If you measure them from the inner part of the elbow to the bottom of
the spigot end it should tell you if the spaces are enough for your problem.
Which I think it should. Give it a try. Take a tape measure to the store with
you, or borrow one from the assistant when you get there. Remember, you can
some styles of connector to the length you need to fit in the pipe properly.

BigWallop wrote:

Measuring the pan connectors before you buy
them would give you a better idea if two of them will make up the gap you need
to fill. If you measure them from the inner part of the elbow to the bottom of
the spigot end it should tell you if the spaces are enough for your problem.
Which I think it should. Give it a try.

OK. I think I'll have to get to the point where I've got the old WC out
and the cladding etc off the walls (it looks like there's cladding on
top of ceramic tiles and who knows what else under there) so I can
measure exactly what distances I have to play with, and then go to the
shop with the tape measure as you suggest.

Many thanks for all your advice.

--
Steve Loft, Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire. 1417ft ASL

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "BigWallop"
saying something like:

Are you sure that the soil stack is only 90 mm (3.5'') in diameter Steve, as
anything less than 110 mm (4'') is not allowed for solid waste soil pipes.

Old CI soil pipes are sometimes to be found in 3.5". There's an adaptor
available for them to allow pan connection, but usually only in straight
connection off the shelf. Multikwik or McAlpine may have something
suitable for the OP, but it would mean some catalogue searching.

Steve Loft typed:


The branch on the soil pipe has 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 stamped on it.

There's a picture of it he
and a picture of the pan connector he

http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/files/connector.jpg

Marley do an off-centre straight pan connector which will go over your pan
and *into* your cast-iron wastepipe, which should gain you a few inches in
height.
The more expansive option is to look around for a wc with a particularly low
outlet, infuriating at times there was no standard height for these.