Hi,

I am in need to change some old 4" cast iron plumbing (y's and straights) because the vertical main drain has a vertical crack in it and it is leaking. I would like to remove all cast iron down to the concrete floor and replace it with ABS. It looks like there is lead or something else as a seal between the vertical and the existing "Y". How do I remove the vertical without breaking the "Y" and connect the new ABS to the old existing "Y" in the concrete floor after I remove all other parts? Do I get a 4+ inch rubber connection or is there a better way?

Regards,

Herb Sokil

Hi Herb...

Most important when working on a cast iron stack will be to SUPPORT the stack so that when you cut into it the pipes above don't come crashing down on your head... O.K.

Here, you would follow the crack and install a riser clamp about about 1 or 2 feet above that and then support the clamp to the floor (see pictures).

You would then use a reciprocating saw with a bimetal blade to cut into the cast iron and remove the bad piping. Then you would use a SHIELDED CLAMP (see picture) to install new pipe in between cuts. In my area, if you cut into a cast iron stack you need to install cast iron pipe in its place. You would need to go to a plumbing supply store and purchase NO-HUB cast iron pipe for this. Otherwise you would need to purchase a couple No-hub cast iron x ABS adapters to transition to the ABS plastic... then could install plastic pipe between clamps.

Do not use the all rubber/neoprene clamps with 2 SS clamps... they rae not made for this work.

Let me know if you have more questions...

MARK