My kitchen drain line runs behind a wall under the sink( I busted out part of the particle board to access pipe)... it runs horizontly about 2 feet through 2 wall studs with slits cut in studs for pipe,that pipe is rusted and leaking behind the wall down through my floor into the basement... can I cut a hole in the plywood floor below and replace the rusted out pipe and hook it back into main drain line it is hooked into now..

You could be, I would recommend converting to PVC while you have everything taken apart. Cut the black iron drain line as close to the stack as possible and then back out the small remaining pipe with a pipe wrench. You can go right into the stack with a threaed PVC fitting glued to your new drain line. Cutting out the floor may give you access but so would removing more wall. Its up to what gives you the best access, the patching probably will never be seen by antone other than you.

Bob gave you good advice about converting to PVC. I didn't have the room to do this so I ran copper on my repair.What material is the horizontal line made of? Copper? Galvanized? I don't understand. If the pipe in the wall's shot why would you wish to repair it the hard way? How would you ever get the replacveme pipe up past the studs into the notches? If that's the easiest then go for it but when I had to replace my copper drain line I didn't have the basement option. My home is on a slab. I was faced with 1) removing the sink and cabimet and opening up the wall **or**2) taking out part of the ouitside block wall.
I went with door number two. Replaced the drain line from the stubout to the sanitary tee in the stack vent and patched and painted. No problems. Let me know what you decide. Good luck, Tom

Thanks,the problem is that the rest of the pipe goes behind the sink counter,I busted as much of the wall as I could,looks like its cutting through the plywood floor,only other option is taking out kitchen counter which is not good.

If your sink's located on a outside wall you have the same option that I took. Good luck, Tom

Hey,what if I drill hole in floor where I can access behind the wall under the sink and run new drain line through the floor and connect it to the main drain line in basement?. will that work OK. that way I eliminate giong along the wall and messing with the studs.

It will work except you would have built a illegal "S" trap. However, i9f it's between tearing up up the place that might just be your best option. There will be some experts that migtht call me out for advising a asker to minstall a "S"trap but we're not here to make a plumber out of the asker. We're here to get him fixed up the fastest easiest way. If you decide to go through the floor don't forget to cap off the old drain or you will be allowing sewer gas to enter your home. Good luck, Tom

Not here Tom, I know that a S trap is like a tree falling in the woods with nobody there to here it, did it make a sound, nope.

OK guys,I am kind of green at plumbing lol... but what I have in mind is bringing new drain line through the floor then hooking into the exsisting line which will be about 10 inches to the right of it,that way no S trap or old line to cap off,it will be the new PVC line to the exsisting galvanized steel... that work OK?

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Originally Posted by plug24019

ok guys,i am kinda green at plumbing lol....but what i have in mind is bringing new drain line thru the floor then hooking into the exsisting line which will be about 10 inches to the right of it,that way no S trap or old line to cap off,it will be the new PVC line to the exsisting galvanized steel ...that work ok?

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If you mean that you'll be keeping the old drain and vent and simply teeing off into the basement I think that will work. Not your usual set up but you have a drain and a vent and if it wiorks for you it works for me. Good luck, Tom