Help, please.

I am responsible for the pipes in my tiny co-op apt in the big apple... and want to the best for my neighbor below me - my toilet lead drain pipe (building is over a 100 years old) drain had a small leak - did my due diligence and have had 3 plumbers look at it. There is a small leak on the topside of this pipe - vertical section leading to main building drain which one of the plumbers sealed up with some plumbers putty and that has been fine for two weeks... but... there are small cracks in the lead pipe... no leaks yet in the cracked section.

Two plumbers say replace the lead pipe. The other put on the putty and said wait on changing pipe - cost to replace: between $1200 to $1400 bucks for new cast iron pipe.

Anyway around it? Now or later issue? Could the cracked piece be cut out and dresser couplings or mission bands be used between a new piece of cast iron? I live in New York City so I believe PVC is not legal here.

Or is it bite the bullit time?

At least the underdog Giants went the distance.

Best,

removemyignoranceplease

I hope the plumber used an EPOXY PUTTY to do that repair... if that is the case then that repair could do the job for quite awhile... but that is not what you asked.. so...

Could you use clamps... yeah... maybe. But in the long run you will end up having to go back in and repair the section that the clamp clamps onto because lead is, well, old.

I mean... no matter what type of repair you will need to open the ceiling... yes.. Then you will need to replace the ceiling, prime, paint, cleanup, etc. If plumbing work done is a patch.. well... maybe OK... may leak again in 3 months... so...

I hate to say it, but invest in the big repair... do it once, do it right... you will not regret it... and you will not end up opening your neighbor's ceiling twice!!

I hope this helped! Good luck.

And hey... from a patriot's fan to a giant's fan... :p