Cast iron sewage and its features

Not long ago, cast iron pipes were widely used for laying sewage systems, since this material was considered the most suitable for these purposes. It should be noted that cast iron really has unique properties, in particular, we can distinguish its noiselessness and fire resistance. In this article we will take a closer look at what constitutes a cast-iron sewage system and what its features are.

Special features

Merits

I must say that the cast-iron sewer system for a long time enjoyed great popularity. This is due to a number of its advantages, among which are:

disadvantages

Despite all the above advantages, the replacement of cast iron sewage systems with plastic has recently become very popular. This is due to some of its drawbacks, such as:

  Note! Pig-iron systems are not recommended for use in areas with weak ground, in seismically active zones, and also in saline soils where the pipeline can quickly become unusable.

Types of cast iron sewers

Sewage pipelines are of two types:

• Flange - to ensure the tightness of the joints in this case, packing is applied (cord impregnated with water-repellent agent). To ensure maximum tightness, the cord is coined. Such a pipeline looks more aesthetically pleasing than a socketless one.
• Socketless - in this case, metal collars with rubber cuffs are used to ensure the tightness of the joints. The maintainability of such highways is higher than bell-shaped ones. As a rule, a pipeless conduit in buildings is masked with panels or placed in gates.

Note! Mechanical cleaning of clogged parts of the system is ineffective. Therefore, a high pressure flush is used to fully restore throughput.

Installation Features

As an example, we consider the features of the installation of a flare sewer with your own hands, as it is the most common. Immediately it should be said that all calculations and markings are performed in the same way, regardless of the material of the pipeline.

Instructions for the installation of pipes is as follows:

• The flat end of the pipe is inserted into the socket of the pipe to be installed.
• There is a gap between the socket and the pipe wall, which, as mentioned above, is sealed with tow. To do this, the cord is wound around the socket and hammered into the slot with a wooden spatula and a hammer. Stacking should be done carefully so that the tow is not inside the pipe, as it can cause sewage to clog.
• When the space of the socket is 2/3 filled with tow, the procedure must be stopped, and then the gap must be filled with a cord that is not treated with impregnations. This is due to the fact that impregnation can reduce adhesion with cement.
• Next, the socket is filled with cement mortar. As a rule, for these purposes, use cement mortar brand M300 or M400 in the ratio of water 1: 9.
• Then the cement is well compacted and a cloth moistened with water is placed on top of it to prevent cracking of the cement during drying.

According to this scheme, the entire sewer pipeline is mounted.

Features dismantling

Most often, the owners of houses and apartments have to deal with the dismantling of these systems. Immediately it should be said that the dismantling of iron sewage with their own hands is a more complex operation than installation.

Of course, if you need to completely dismantle the system, for example, to replace the plastic one, you can simply break it with a hammer. Since cast iron is a brittle material, it is easily mechanical. But, how to dismantle the cast-iron sewage system in a certain place, for example, to replace the broken elements?

To do this, you need tools such as:

• Blowtorch;
• Bulgarian;
• Hammer.

Before dismantling the iron sewer, you should inspect the system to correctly identify the damaged area. After that, you need to turn off the water, thereby preventing its access to the sewer.

Further work is done as follows:

• The first step is to cut the pipe section below the joint.
• Next, you need to release the pipe from the socket. There are several ways to caulk cast iron sewers. Most often, cement is knocked down with a chisel and a hammer, the field of which is loosened.
• If the connection is tight, the bell is heated with a blowtorch. Another option is to make cuts about 20 mm long around the pipe.

In the same way, all other connections are dismantled. I must say that in some cases sulfur is used to seal the joints. In this case, for racking up the bell, it is necessary to heat it with a blowtorch, as a result of which the sealing substance will melt.

It is necessary to perform this operation carefully, protecting the respiratory organs with a respirator, since sulfur is toxic. In addition, to avoid burns, it is necessary to work with gloves.

Tip! If the cast-iron pipe must be connected to the polymer, you should use a special rubber coupling sewer.

Here, perhaps, all the main features of working with cast iron sewer pipes.

Conclusion

Pig-iron sewage system has its own advantages and disadvantages, however, it is used less and less for domestic purposes. Of course, noiselessness is a big plus, but you can make noise insulation and a plastic riser.

And if we take into account the high cost of cast-iron materials, in most cases it is completely impractical to mount such a pipeline.

From the video in this article, you can get more information on this topic.