My sewere line runs out the back yard. Leaving out my backyard, it turns into cast iron just before it crosses a creek, and then proceeds across my neighbors back yard, under the corner of their house, and across their front yard to the street in front of their house. The street in front of my house is higher than my lower lines, so it goes out the back (something that was done a really long tome ago before I bought the house). I have now exposed most all of the current section I intend to replace. I will use PVC from under my office, out to the main line that goes to the street, and some of it back towards my house. I need to do it all, but I'll have to make that another project.

[url=][/url]
I am going to tear out the line going uo to the toilet, and move the toilet over 2" to allow more elbow room next to the wall. The existing line goes under the footer wall, and then back up on the outside. I am going to bore a hole through the concrete wall and run the new sewer line through the hole. I will have to tie in the vent, and the drain line for my sink.

[url=][/url]
This is the outside where I Will be coring through the wall and working my way towards my main line. Sorry don't have any pics of the 30' hole in my yard.I plan on tearing out all the clay pipe seen here, and putting in a 2 way cleanout valve here. The cleanout here only went one way, and my problem was of course, the other way.

As long as they have a tap on the sewer line or water line or gas line it's fine HO or Lic. Plumber to tie on toit

Ratmo - You really don't want the city of public utility company to do any plumbing past their taps, they do not have to follow any codes or do any thing correctly.

Curly Dawg - If you go the time, I would rip all the cast iron out, install a 2 way clean out.

I would not own a house in Texas with Cast Iron

monday had to snake out my lines. Have roots too. it was wonderful. cold and the black sludge flinging on me. spring time I'll start digging. I have black pipe now going to pvc.

The best thing we ever did besides replacing all the old wiring in this old house when we did rennovations was to replace the old clay sewer pipe and put in a clean out valve. My step-son is a licensed plumber and he knew how to make the connections. It is a good thing to have family that works in different areas of construction. Our nephew is a licensed electrician.

Replacing all of the wiring and was a no brainer when my husband and his son were installing the dishwasher. They had turn off all the breaker boxes and were still getting shocked. Our nephew finally found the third breaker box which was the main one up in the attic. Crazy. Hubby and I looked at each other the afternoon they kept getting shocked and agree all the wiring was going to be replaced before we moved into the house.

Any plumbing you do whether you do it or your favorite plumber does it must be in compliance to state and local codes. This usually will require a permit also. Most towns in my area that have codes require a minimum sch 40 pvc building sewer or yard line. I personally do not care for 4" sdr 35 (green sewer pipe) because I have seen it egg shape over time. You are probably looking at about a .50/ft difference or $50.00 bucks every hundred ft. Dont start skimpimg now.

To the guy telling you to put in a "T" every 80', a "T" layed on its back is wrong in any waste situation. The proper fitting is a wye or a wye and 1/8 bend combination. If the waste line is less than 2' deep you can use a two way clean out. He did get the 80' right.

As far as cutting the clay pipe if you can score the pipe all the way around then use a cold chisel with light taps around the pipe until it cracks. Chain cutters are expensive for a one time use. I dont know if they are a rental item. If a chunk comes off you can use a cresent just take your time and take little bites up and down. The CT or Fernco adaptor is fine to use just make sure the bottom of the pipes match. This is where we use a root killer around the adaptor when we backfill to discourage root growth in the future.

There is nothing wrong with cast iron pipe. It last as long if not longer than pvc. The young whippersnappers dont like it because it is hard dirty work and most don't know how to cut or install it.

Its not brain surgery but if it is not right it can seem like a frontal labotomy. Remember the number one rule right after the boss is a SOB is that the $**t runs downhill.

Hope this helps and good luck. If you need any more help most reputable plumbers are usually willing to give you some advise.

Vick's Plumbing Inc.
Alpine, TX

Yes I agree with that, but that is outside of the city.Im sure your more up to date than I am and I really cant argue the fact. Just trying to save some headaches down the road. Most of my expearance is in heavy utilities, supt.for 30yrs last water line I layed the gate valves weighed 10 tons and was 11' tall. Whole differant world from res;.

I agree with just about everything you said other than cast iron lasts as long or longer than pvc! I have yet to pull out a rotten piece of pvc, or cracked all along the bottom, as I have pulled out hundreds of feet of this in cast iron.

This just is not true.

Here in Wihcita, a plumbing company we do alot of work with has this machine where they send this deal down the clay pipe, that fills the old pipe with another liner of some sort all in pass. That away you never have to dig anything up. Seems to work pretty good. Could this work in your situation?

Thanks Brian, but I had roots growing nearly solid in my clay pipes. Some were nearly as big as my little finger in diameter. I have no idea how anything was getting down my pipe. I have heard of what you are talking about.

Anyways, I have now replaced my entire line from my office, to the main line that goes to my house. I will post pics later.

Here is the old cleanout that wouldn't cleanout under my office restroom. It went under the footer wall in a pee trap style flow.
[url=][/url] [url=][/url]
This is the old under the floor of my office restroom.
[url=][/url]
And the after...

[url=][/url]