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Last night I go to a customers house to fix a small leak in the toilet drain that is ruining the ceiling. Sounded simple enough.
I open up the ceiling to find all the original drain work. The lead pipe has two large corrosion type build-ups on it, one at 5 o’clock and one at 10 o’clock. I scrape these off to find holes as big as the build-up. First hole 1.5×2.5″ and the top hole is 1.25×1.25″. Normally I would remove the bad lead pipe and replace with plastic and boot it to the cast……but in this case, the lead is 12″ and runs to a short 4″ brass/copper/bronze pipe that sits in a cast iron Y where the tub ties in. The main stack is another 5′ away or so. Now even worse, the floor above is tile but has no wood sub floor. It is concrete poured over 2 layers of heavy gauge sheet steel with louvers punched in it (looks like it’s made for this) now the metal and cement above are molded over the lead pipe, which has been flattened a bit at the top. SO, if I would remove the lead, I would never get a new round pipe to fit in. There is no room above to get anything on or around the pipe anywhere.
What would you guys do? We are talking about either added expense for major project of chiseling and adding new pipe or hoping for the best with a 2 part epoxy patch. I suspect the deterioation of the lead is the result of electrolosis as it is occuring near the copper/brass/bronze connection. My concern is furture corrosion of the lead causing another hole, more than I am worried about the patch giving up.
Pete
Replies
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Last night I go to a customers house to fix a small leak in the toilet drain that is ruining the ceiling. Sounded simple enough.
I open up the ceiling to find all the original drain work. The lead pipe has two large corrosion type build-ups on it, one at 5 o'clock and one at 10 o'clock. I scrape these off to find holes as big as the build-up. First hole 1.5x2.5" and the top hole is 1.25x1.25". Normally I would remove the bad lead pipe and replace with plastic and boot it to the cast......but in this case, the lead is 12" and runs to a short 4" brass/copper/bronze pipe that sits in a cast iron Y where the tub ties in. The main stack is another 5' away or so. Now even worse, the floor above is tile but has no wood sub floor. It is concrete poured over 2 layers of heavy gauge sheet steel with louvers punched in it (looks like it's made for this) now the metal and cement above are molded over the lead pipe, which has been flattened a bit at the top. SO, if I would remove the lead, I would never get a new round pipe to fit in. There is no room above to get anything on or around the pipe anywhere.
What would you guys do? We are talking about either added expense for major project of chiseling and adding new pipe or hoping for the best with a 2 part epoxy patch. I suspect the deterioation of the lead is the result of electrolosis as it is occuring near the copper/brass/bronze connection. My concern is furture corrosion of the lead causing another hole, more than I am worried about the patch giving up.
Pete