[jattea]

I'm an amateur, trying to replace my bathroom pedestal sink with a vanity. I removed the pedestal sink, started installing the vanity, and I noticed that the drain pipe out of the wall is badly corroded/rusted, and had disintegrated almost to the base. Please see below:



I'm not sure what is at the base where the pipe meets the wall. I removed the chrome collar to find this - it might be corroded metal or hard caulk... It's a very old house, so it could be lead, solder, who knows...

What should I do? Should I try to replace the drain pipe from the wall? Should I try to use a fernco fitting over the corroded part? Help!!

[ballengerb1]

Amazed you don't have water all over the floor with this. Remove the collar with Vise grips or Channel locks and discard. There should be a nut collar inside but like you say you never know. Try to take a new pic with the old chrome collar off.

[jattea]

Amazed you don't have water all over the floor with this. Remove the collar with Vise grips or Channel locks and discard. There should be a nut collar inside but like you say you never know. Try to take a new pic with the old chrome collar off.

I can't believe it either. I think that taking off the trap may have caused some of the crumbling. Now my concern is that I don't have enough drain pipe left to use a rubber coupling.

I tried removing the old collar, and it won't budge. So I tried prying, and it feels malleable. I then tried hammering it with a flatnose screwdriver, and it is definitely a soft metal. Here's a picture from above, showing some of the exposed metal. Could this be lead or leaded solder? Now I'm concerned because I have young kids in the house:



Is there any chance of me using the existing pipe? Or will I need to replace it?

[speedball1]

We have to know what material the pipe is. Take a knife and scrap the pipe. What color is it? Is it soft or hard metal? You must open up the wall around the pipe to see if it connects to a elbo or a threaded sanitary tee. Let us know, Tom

[ballengerb1]

Yes, more info will help. While it looks like lead I have never seen a verticle poured lead joint.

[jattea]

Here is a picture of the scraped pipe. It's a shiny silver-colored hard metal. (Even though it looks coppery in this photo).



I really don't want to have to open the wall. The tile is original and irreplaceable. Not to mention it's a huge pain, and I was hoping to do this whole job on my own and not hire a plumber... Should I try to use a rubber coupling first and see if that works? Or is there no chance given the amount of corrosion?

What is a vertical poured lead joint?

[hkstroud]

Give it up, that pipe is shot. Any attempts to patch will just cause it to crumble more. Looks like chrome plated copper to me. Have no idea what that stuff is up against the wall is, could be solder. Have no idea why it would be there. If it is solder or lead you can probably cut it away with a wood chisel. Remove it so you can see what kind of joint is made to the drain pipe. Then you will know how to replace. Doesn't necessarily mean you have to break out tile.

[speedball1]

You're describing galvanized iron but it looks like copper. How about taking some sand cloth and cleaning it up se we know for sure.
Now, a few questions,
Is the pipe ate up inside? Is it cracked or open any where? If you put a wrench on it would it crush? I'm trying to save your tile job but until I learn more about what material it is nit looks like you're going to hafta bite the bullet and open up the wall. There's still a chance if the pip[ is simply cruddy on the outside that it might still be used. Clean it up and let me know what state it's in.
Back to you, Tom

[hkstroud]

Tom
Check out the pic in the first post. Pipe appears to have about a 1" gap corroded away the entire length of the bottom of the pipe. In post #6 the top of the pipe has been sanded, appears to be copper. Pipe appears to be thin walled, chrome plated copper trap arm.

[speedball1]

Harold. You're probably right. If that's the bottom of the pipe I'm looking at and its all ate up he's out of gas amd will have to open up the wall and replace the pipe. Thanks, Tom

[jattea]

Yeah, I think you guys are right. I want to do it right so I'm calling in the plumber. It's definitely not copper - the picture makes it look like copper, but it's just the lighting. I'm not sure what the pipe is, but it needs replacing. I doubt the corrosion will stop. Thanks for your help everyone.