Plumbing

Backhoe? Dynamite?

Perhaps take a few extra seconds to actually provide information?

what is the best way to remove an old transite drain pipe?

Were you able to view picture attached? My main question is, if I have to cut the pipe is there a special means in regards to safety? Through a little bit of reserch I have found that this pipe cotains asbestos.

EDIT. you were posting info as I was posting.

THe black pipe at the end....how deep does that go? Wondering if it can be shifted enough by digging deeper to allow enough movement for them to seperate? If there is known asbestose cutting it would be a definate risk you might not want to attempt.. WHat is the material its made of? Insulated cast iron? If it is and the asbestose is in what appears to e insulation...saturating the insulation with water for some distance(wrapping it with somethng like soaked burlap for a few feet at one end...and a few solid hits with a sledge hammer to break the pipe....the water and the wetted wrap preventing friable asbestos from becoming airborn? Only a thought..hopefully someone will have a safer better idea....if thats a steel pipe thats not going to work anyway.

The black pipe at the end is a rigid sewer drain to the street. I may have a little wiggle room at the other end where it transitions to 3in. PVC (see pic). I'm unsure what the pipe is actually made of but a friend of mine referred to it as transite. Through reserch on the net transite contains asbestos.
Thank you.

AH... ok... now I can see a LOT better... if you can shift one end enough to separate without disturbing the asbestos that might be your safest way out. You are indoors... you need to be extra careful with the asbestos... it will remain confined to the room and settle on almost everything... including you and your lungs.

Have patience... I know there are a few people that almost certainly have dealt with this type of pipe before. And they will post.

An abundence of caution is always a good thing when there is a doubt.

Ok thank you very much for your help and I will try my best to be careful.

I assume the whitish pipe is the possibly asbestos containing one... don't even touch it unless its wetted down. That will keep any asbestos dust from becoming airborn. And the fibers are microscopic.

I missed a post made while I was posting......cut the PVC pipe....that will provide all the wiggle room you need. YOu can always glue more PVC pipe back on that.

I would also immediately wrap it upon removal and before it dried with plastic sheeting... and tape it up well before disposal.

Transite or AC (asbestos concrete) is commonly found in old underground water mains. The pipe distributes potable water even though there is asbestos in the pipe. There is little danger of touching it and it becoming fiable. It becomes friable when you cut it or break it. In the past I have used a snap cutter, band saws, reciprocating saws to cut it. But I had the proper PPE on to protect myself, my family and my coworkers, a respirator full face or half face, full tyvek suit, gloves and an exhaust fan. You should also keep the pipe wet to help keep the particulates down. If you can insert a measuring tape on the inside of the pipe and slowly push the tape in, you will feel it drop and catch into a coupling or fitting when the tab on the end of the tape comes to the fitting. That will help you if you decide to break it up with a large sledge hammer to the next fitting and transition to plastic. If I remember right, AC comes in lengths of 2.5 ft. 5 ft. 10 ft. etc... instead of paying to have it abated, we would leave the discarded AC in the trench or hole upon backfilling... this was back in the 70's & 80's. If you do not feel comfortable doing it, call in the pros but get ready to pay. Asbestos is the state rock here in California... seems only right huh? Good luck.