When cast iron goes bad...

[AHI in AR]

Ever wonder what a section of cast iron drain that's about to cause a problem looks like? Here's a pic.

Thought it might help new inspectors.

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[palmettoinspect]

One can only imagine what the inside of that pipe looks like.

[Mike Lamb]

I'm wondering if that pipe was pitched properly. That's what happens after years of standing water.

[AHI in AR]

I'm wondering if that pipe was pitched properly. That's what happens after years of standing water.

Actually, the section pictured was sloped correctly. It was 55 years old -- a little premature for most failures of this type that I see.

My inspection this morning of a different home (roughly similar age) did have a replaced section that wasn't well done. One end of the cast iron wasn't re-supported after being replaced by PVC. The "plumber" apparently decided that ductwork was a good support. It may be hard to tell in the photo, but the drain flow was downhill from left to right.

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[caryseidner]

I found this one last year. Enjoy!

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[ericwlewis]

"plumber" LOL

I don't have a picture but, have you seen where a plumber has cut completely through a floor joist so the toilet would go where he wanted? It's typical for that joist to be holding up the toilet and a cast iron tub.DUH!

[Erby]

Ya mean like this, Eric?

[allseason]

I look at a lot of cast iron and most of it is still in pretty good shape, some of it well over fifty. I also find lots of galvinized, which almost always looks like that on the horizontals.

In my own house I have cast. One problem I had was a crack at the top of the pipe, likely a bad casting. Unless the pipe fills to the top you'll never see it leak.

[ericwlewis]

Ya mean like this, Eric?

well, that's twice as bad as I have seen!