Home Garden
# Home & Garden >> Home Repair & Maintenance >> Plumbing

How to Disconnect a Cast Iron Pipe Joint

Cast iron pipes are commonly found in plumbing systems, lasting decades without losing any effectiveness in transporting liquids throughout a structure. Unfortunately, cast iron tends to rust over time, developing leaks, especially at the joints. The joints, however, are often soldered together, making disconnection difficult and time consuming. The most appropriate approach to disconnecting a cast iron pipe joint because of this is to remove the joint completely, cutting it from the pipe. The joint is later replaced with another run of piping, either of cast iron or some other appropriate pipe type.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Riser clamps, 2
  • Socket wrench
  • 2-by-4-inch wood blocks
  • Circular saw
  • 10d nails
  • Hammer
  • Chalk
  • Chain cutter
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Turn off the flow of liquid through the pipe from which you’re removing the joint to prevent flooding of the room after removal.

    • 2

      Measure the diameter of the pipe with a tape measure and obtain two riser clamps the same diameter of the pipe if the joint that you’re cutting is in a vertical pipe run.

    • 3

      Support the position of the pipe if it runs vertically using riser clamps to prevent the heavy cut joint from snapping the pipe or breaking away uncontrollably during the cutting process. Place the first set of clamps around the base of the pipe where it meets the floor. The clamps consist of a rounded area that surrounds the pipe and two ledge-like protrusions that branch off to either side of the pipe. Tighten the clamps together using a socket wrench on the bolts of the clamp, ensuring that the ledges are flush with the floor.

    • 4

      Place a second riser clamp approximately 4 inches above the joint. Cut two, 6-inch long blocks from the 2-by-4-inch planks with a circular saw and nail them to the wood studs to either side of the pipe with 10d nails. Place the clamp around the pipe with the clamp ledges resting levelly on the wood blocks, and then tighten the clamp into place with the socket wrench.

    • 5

      Mark cutting lines along the pipe to either side of the pipe joint with the chalk, about 2 inches from the joint connection.

    • 6

      Wrap the chains of a chain cutter around the pipe with the cutting wheels aligned with the chalk line above the joint. Tighten the wheels until they’re flush against the pipe, and then grasp the hooked handle of the cutting chain in one hand while twisting the cutter handle, which looks like the arm of a large socket wrench, with the other. With each rotation of the handle, you’ll move the cutting wheels against the pipe surface cutting through the body of the pipe. Twist the handle until you cut through completely, and then remove the chain.

    • 7

      Place the chain around the second cutting line beneath the joint, and then cut through the pipe following the same procedure. Remove the joint from the pipe once you’ve completed the second cut.

Previous:

Next:

Plumbing
  1. How to Compare Ductile Iron Pipe to Cast Iron Pipe
  2. How to Tell Ductile Pipe From Cast Iron Pipe
  3. How to Drill a Hole in a Cast Iron Pipe
  4. How to Seal Cast Iron Waste Line Joints
  5. How to Protect Cast Iron Planters
  6. How to Replace Old Cast Iron Stack Pipe
  7. How to Remove a Cast Iron Pipe Joint in a Septic Tank
  8. How to Repair a Hole in a Cast Iron Pipe With PC-Metal Epoxy
  9. How to Reduce the Height of the Toilet With a Cast Iron Drain Pipe
  10. How to Disconnect a Sweated Copper Pipe
  11. How to Safely Remove a Cast Iron Vent Pipe
  12. How to Move a Cast Iron Toilet Drain

Home Garden © https://www.98905.com