How Good Is Cast Iron?

One of the longest lasting types of waste piping, cast iron waste pipes have been known to last up to 80 years on average and has served both residential and commercial buildings with fantastic results. It is a thick walled pipe that is typically joined together at their hubs with oakum and poured lead.

Like with any other metal cast iron is prone to rust, leading to failure premature to its intended life expectancy. A few factors will accelerate the degradation of cast iron including if it is buried in the ground that yields constantly moist conditions, and also if it was installed correctly in the first place. Cast iron can also degrade based on the contents it is conveying through it. If it is highly acidic in nature then it will naturally wear down the interior of the pipe much faster. Common high acidic materials that affect cast iron negatively include alcoholic beverages, chemicals flushed down the drain, drain blockage clearing liquid such as Drain-O, highly acidic water used in your water system, and many others.

When cast iron erodes internally and externally, the thickness of the wall lessens until it becomes brittle and flakes of material come off creating holes. These thin walls and new holes allow for roots to infiltrate the pipe and create blockages and backups in your home. It also can lead to a collapsed pipe if the weight of the dirt above is too great for the pipe to hold.

When conditions such as described above are found, a new side sewer line will be needed in a very short amount of time to preserve the working order of your home’s waste system.