Abnormal Corrosion of CI pipes?

[joerockt]

Hi, I bought a 3 story townhome about 6 months ago and I've had a few plumbing problems since. The latest one though was on the top floor where I have 2 tubs, 2 toilets and 3 sinks, and all of them backed up.

Long story short, plumber came out to fix and since he was really late, he offered to run the camera at no charge. He takes off one of the toilets and puts the camera down the hole and we immediately see what looks like corrosion/rust on these pipes.

Thing is, these townhomes are only 9+ years old. In his opinion, he thought that was an abnormal amount of rust considering CI should last 50 years, which he feels is causing the occasional clogs. Plumber then proceeds to tell me that he wants to replace all pipes with PVC to the tune of $6500. Obviously I'm going to be contacting the builder of these townhomes to get more information.

I took a video of the camera image:

http://youtu.be/DTJ371wgV4Y

What do you guys think? Truly abnormal for that amount of time? Is that truly rust or just matter build up?

 

[frodo]

get another plumber. thats what cast IRON looks like. do you see how the "free" scope of your drain works?
especially if the building is already know to the plumber.to have ugly pipes.


where was the blockage? what was the blockage?

 

[joerockt]

get another plumber. thats what cast IRON looks like. do you see how the "free" scope of your drain works?
especially if the building is already know to the plumber.to have ugly pipes.


where was the blockage? what was the blockage?

He snaked it going through the drain under my sink, so I don't really know what the blockage was, he didn't tell me and I forgot to ask. I do know that it was probably the main pipe coming down from the 3rd floor to the 2nd as both tubs and both toilets backed up.

So you're saying what you're seeing in the video is completely normal? Is that just simply surface rust and buildup? Is it something that can be water jetted? Does it even need to be?

I figured there would be some surface rust, similar to a rotor on a car after you wash it. Of course the guy made it sound like the pipes were about to rust through.

 

[frodo]

they did not look rotted to me. but I am not there

what I was trying to convey. if someone offers to video your drains for free. then, tells you they need replacing.

I would get a 3rd party opinion. who is being told, and understand. that whatever they find. you are not in the market for

a new system, you are only interested in information.

also, seems funny, that he did not show you the stoppage. after all, that is why he was there to begin with. isn't it?

I would be saying..Here it is!! look at that CLOG!!! no problem, I'll have it out in a jiffy!!!

instead he went into salesman mode?

but hey man, that's just me

 

[joerockt]

they did not look rotted to me. but I am not there

what I was trying to convey. if someone offers to video your drains for free. then, tells you they need replacing.

I would get a 3rd party opinion. who is being told, and understand. that whatever they find. you are not in the market for

a new system, you are only interested in information.

also, seems funny, that he did not show you the stoppage. after all, that is why he was there to begin with. isn't it?

I would be saying..Here it is!! look at that CLOG!!! no problem, I'll have it out in a jiffy!!!

instead he went into salesman mode?

but hey man, that's just me

Yea, it really didn't work out like that. The back story is that the clog happened on Monday night. I called a few companies, finally made an appt with this one, but 5 hours later and up waiting till midnight, they didn't show. I told them to cancel and they said if I want they will come out early morning to fix the clog at half the cost. I said fine. That morning, plumber comes out, fixes the clog and because they didn't show, basically offers to camera and water jet for free the next day. So now you know the rest of the story. If it was a ruse, then its a good one because I don't see why he would have wasted him time coming out again to run the camera. I'm not exactly a push over by any means and wasn't about to accept his estimate, as evident by me coming here.

Anyway, I'm getting the home builder involved as apparently its still under warranty, so they'll be sending out a plumber to investigate.

 

[frodo]

i would be looking for the underlieing reason for a stopage. in 2 story homes FALL comes to mind.

is the pitch of the pipe a proper 1/4" per foot. if not, it may be a warranty item for your builder to deal with..

thats legal stuff i have no dealings with

 

[joerockt]

So I called the builder and gave them the story. They referred me to a guy they use and trust. When I told him the story, he laughed and said he's heard this one about 3 times so far in our community. Guys put a camera down a hole and see all sorts of issues like "rust and stalagmites" and then give the line of "well you have to replace the whole thing". I sent the video to this guy so he's going to take a look. Basically he said it can be cleaned, but he needs to see the 2nd floor where everything on the 3rd floor comes down at an elbow, he says that's where he's seen the majority of clogs.

 

[SHR]

The camera guy was either an idiot or dishonest. Either way do not let him back in to your house.

 

[Mr_David]

I agree that cast iron looks fine.

He cleaned a main drain stoppage through a sink trap arm tells me he used a small cable AND a small head. I would only attempt to get water flowing with a snake that would fit in to a sink trap arm or 2" clean out. Then clean it with a larger snake.
He even pulled a toilet to camera the line. That is SALES dedication. Must work well for him to pull and reset a toilet for free.
Lock your door when you see this guy coming again.

I have a VHS video of a sewer line in a commercial bldg on my desk here .
I am trying to convert to digital. That one is not okay.
Our Sea Snake is old school. Has VHS recorder