Howdy,

Just returned home after being away for a while and noticed a long crack, approx 1/4 inch wide, through a big chunk of my 4 inch cast iron soil stack vent.

The crack begins about six inches below the floor (basment access) and goes up several inches into the wall between my bathroom sink and kitchen sink. I have to cut a hole through the dry wall to fully eval.

I've done some plumbing but have never worked on anything 4 inch diam or so difficult to access before.

I'm open to suggestions.

Thank you!

I don't have an answer for your question. But, I care that your question gets answered. By my posting a reply now, your question will get moved more towards the top of the list of questions needing answers. Hopefully, someone will come along soon with the expertise to answer your question.

Well, obviously it's hard to give very specific advice in a situation like this, but...


The best thing I can say is don't be scared to tackle it yourself. I had a similar thing (cracked cast iron pipe INSIDE the basement wall, outside grade had settled and snapped the pipe in two. It was that way for years before I bought the house) not too long ago, and it worked out fine.

I found that the cast iron was actually pretty easy to work with. Just get a diamond blade to cut it, and the no-hub bands are a snap to work with.

Get a good book, follow the hints (particularly about supporting the stack when you cut it) and go for it. It's really not that hard. You'll have to go to a 'real' plumbing supply for cast iron pipe and fittings.

You can also convert to PVC, which is what the book and a lot of folks will tell you. I didn't do that because I wanted the strength of cast iron where it went through the foundation wall, and code would have required a larger sleeve for PVC. Note that cast iron is MUCH quieter than PVC too, if that matters to you.

Anyhow, if you've opened the wall up already, you're more than halfway done. Get some clamps and brace the heck out of the stack, cut it and slip in a new section.

Good luck!

~aaron

Ps: search posts by me to see some of the cast-iron hijinks... some of the photos may help.