Cast Iron Pipe Replacement
Cast iron corrodes along the bottom of horizontal runs, where waste sits. From above it looks like a slow drain.
Cast iron was the standard drain material in American homes for most of the twentieth century, and there is a great deal of it under older Tampa neighbourhoods. It fails from the inside, typically along the bottom of horizontal runs, until the channel scales down or the pipe bottom is simply gone.
A camera inspection is the honest first step, because it separates a line that needs cleaning from one that needs replacing. Those cost very differently and look identical from above.
Scope matters enormously here. Replacing accessible runs is one job; under-slab replacement means breaking concrete inside the house and is a substantially larger project. We will tell you which situation you are in before quoting rather than after.
When this is likely your problem
What's included — and what isn't
Included in the quote
- Camera inspection to establish actual condition
- Identification of failing versus serviceable sections
- Replacement of accessible cast iron with PVC
- Reconnection of fixture branches and vents
- Post-work camera verification
Quoted separately
- Concrete patching beyond a basic trench fill, and floor finishing
- Drywall, tile, and finish restoration
- Permits and inspection fees
- Building sewer beyond the foundation
- Supply line work, which is separate scope
What drives the number
We quote after diagnosis, not before. These move the number most:
- LOCATIONAccessible runs versus under-slab, which is a different project.
- EXTENTWhole system versus specific failing sections.
- FIXTURESHow many branches tie in and must be reconnected.
Tampa note
This is one of the most oversold services in older Tampa neighbourhoods. A camera run showing corrosion in one section is not evidence that the whole system needs replacing. Ask any contractor to show you the footage of the sections they say are sound as well as the ones they say are not.
Related
What the visit involves
Camera it first
Condition varies enormously along one line. We look before quoting anything.
Separate failing from sound
Not all cast iron needs replacing; some sections have decades left.
Replace in PVC
Failing sections replaced, branches reconnected, then tested.
Verify with the camera
A second run confirms flow and grade before close-up.
Questions about this service
How do I know if mine needs replacing?
A camera inspection is the only honest way. From above, a slow drain looks the same whether it is a soft blockage or a pipe with no bottom left. We will show you the footage rather than describing it.
Can it be lined instead?
Sometimes, depending on condition and configuration. Lining needs an intact host pipe to form against, so a section that has lost its bottom is not a candidate. We will tell you honestly whether yours is.
Does the whole system need doing?
Often not. Condition varies along a run, and some sections may have years left. Be cautious of a quote to replace everything based on footage of one bad section.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call and describe what's happening. You'll get an honest read before anyone drives out.