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View Full Version : Busted toilet drain pipe on a slab 1973 home


Jay11789
Nov 25, 2006, 07:22 PM
Hello all and Happy Holidays. I have a bit of a dilema with a bathroom Im redmodeling. I hope soemone can provide me with some plumbing education, since Im lost.

It all started with me deciding to remove the old toilet. Keep in mind, Im in an L shaped ranch, bathrooms are back to back, built in 1973, and to top it off, on a slab. SO, I pop the nuts off the base of the toilet and begin pulling... pulling... pulling. Now, Im a strong guy, but the pulling wasn't getting me anywhere. So, stupid me decides to twist... BAD IDEA! Ive learned my lesson to NOT twist a toilet off the pipe. The toilet was on so well, or for such a long time, that as I twisted the pipe (some type of metal) along with it, and the pipe snapped down below. How far down below? Well, far enough that I can't see it until I break up some more concrete! Nice job right? So, Im guessing I need to break up the concrete a bit, to expose more of the nightmare pipe, find where its good, and cut off the bad part. Maybe convert it over to PVC somehow? Another question I have is, where does the pipe go? I mean, does it combine with the other bathrom toilet drain and then go down to a main line? Im not sure of the structure or design of a typical home like mine? Does anyone have any ideas? I don't smell sewer gas, so Im guessing that's a good thing. Also, when the other toilet was flushed, I did see a very small splash of water from the base of the hole... not sure that helps. Please, any information you guys/gals can provide would be greatly appreciated. :confused:
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/324/drain1ev4.jpg
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4173/drain2aq7.jpg

speedball1
Nov 26, 2006, 04:51 AM
I wouldn't beat myself up too bad. The cast iron had to be weak to began with or it wouldn't have snapped as it did. However, that doesn't change the fact that you have major surgery ahead of you. I wish I could give you a "magic fix" that would make all this go away but you only have one option.
The slab will have to come up back to good pipe. You may then convert to PVC if you wish, but whether you replace with cast iron or PVC that floor and tile has to come up. If you need assistance after you get the slab up just click on back. Good luck, Tom