How To Clean Out Old Cast Iron Pipes
Cast iron is not used for potable water.
How to clean out old cast iron pipes. The longer cast iron plumbing pipes sit in the ground basement or crawl space without being disturbed the more corroded and stuck their joints become. There are specific items to use that will stop more damage from being caused. Now that I taught you how to sewer jet I want to also say that I am.
We use a picote drain cleaning machine to remove rust and loose debris. How do you non-destructively remove a cast iron cleanout plug from a pipe. We then use a high pressure water jetted to clean the pipe.
Good Option 1- Cabling. Cleanout plugs are removable. Cast iron was a good choice at the time because it was solid and expected to last.
Discussion in Plumbing Forum Professional DIY Advice started by Ben Skove Dec 2 2012. The traditional method used most of the time to clean cast iron pipes is a drain snake with cable and blades. There really is no way to clean the pipes out.
Its used for drains. A word of caution if you happen to have orangeburg piping which is basically clay pipe used in older houses built before 1920 DO NOT SEWER JET your line you run the high risk of damaging and or breaking your pipe. Check with your building department or water department to verify the pipes are clogged and that its not the meter or delivery system.
You now will have sewer lines that will have a 100 year life and a 50 year warranty. This method is great when you have a clog but were talking about descaling the inner walls of the old cast iron pipes to get them. However while cast iron is tough and heavy it does corrode over time.