How To Clean Old Cast Iron Drain Pipes
Then use some cooking oil spray inside the cast iron pipe hub to make it easier to hammer the donut in.
How to clean old cast iron drain pipes. A few solid hits will probably do the job. Shifting soils tree roots and especially chemicals like drain cleaner can damage them over time. I have recently become aware of a tool designed to snap cast iron pipe.
So with drain pipes those variables are unavoidable without proper maintenance. I live in a 50 year old house but have a problem removing the cast iron drain pipe fittings. Often too much effort for most people.
Pick a water softener to remove iron particles through an iron exchange system. One thing about these cast iron pipes especially higher up is that people could not be bothered painting the non visible part around the back. The repair can usually be completed in just a few hours.
So you may find the back of it is rusted a lot more. I have in fact been able to smash the cast iron wall fixing with a hammer but the bolts securing the fixing will not move without I feel doing a lot of damage in the meantime. The cast iron hopper at the top of the drain pipe has cracked and water is seeping down the wall.
Compared to hydro jetting it is a much safer method. This system works for insoluble and organic iron particles and utilizes ionization collecting iron particles and replacing them with sodium. If the pipe were structurally sound these devices could easily solve the cleaning issue but we often see old cast iron pipe in a less than pristine condition.
Further up on the vented part above the toilet connection you may find the back has totally rusted through. The traditional method used most of the time to clean cast iron pipes is a drain snake with cable and blades. This is a tool used by even some professionals to clean a cast-iron drain pipe and it isnt expensive.