Cast Iron Pipe Questions

[Sariah Langinbelik]

Hi, I'm new to Bigger Pockets (my brothers urged me to join).

I recently bought a home with a basement in Utah that has been having draining issues.  We got it professionally snaked and then was told that the main sewer line (Cast Iron) should be totally replaced and they recommended doing an epoxy liner for the transition pipes (near the sidewalk) that connect to the city's main line.  Our house was built in '63 and these pipes have never been replaced.

We've got multiple bids and I'm wondering the following:

1. One company recommended 'reinstating' the cast iron pipes rather than replacing them.  Basically taking a type of special drill and scraping the inside of the cast iron to remove all of the rust/gunk and make the pipes 'like new'.  They said this technique is very popular in Europe.  Has anyone heard of this and is it reliable?  Out of 4 companies only 1 recommended this.

2. Is a fiberglass epoxy liner worth having for our transition pipes? (the pipes are cast iron till the end of the yard and then transition to a different material pipe that connects to the city line)

3. Is there a huge difference in a company installing ABS vs. PVC piping?  

thank you!

[Kevin Bennett]

Hey Sarah,

Congrats on the new purchase. I'm a general contractor out in Connecticut. This is what I would say to your questions/comments:

1. Reinstating. Not uncommon. I would guess your cheapest bid to do the job. Permanent fix? No. Could it work? Hard for me to say as I sit on the other side of the country.

2. What is your responsibility for the pipe? Where does your town/city's responsibility start? It sounds like you have it all the way to the main sewer line. Sleeves are a good idea if there are no roots, breaks in the lines, etc. 

3. No significant difference between ABS and PVC. I hire plumbers who use only one or both. ABS is stronger and PVC is more flexible. You should not have a price different from a subcontractor between ABS and PVC.

I would weigh the costs of the options heavily. Sleeves are a good fix if it's a temporary investment. I'm leaning towards replacing the pipes completely if you plan on having this place for 7+ years.

Feel free to reach out with more questions. Good luck with the project. 

Kevin