How to Seal a Horizontal Split Along the Seam on a Cast-iron Sewer Drainpipe

Many home DWV systems use cast iron for the drainpipes. DWV stands for the drain-waste-vent system of a structure, and it is the system that removes sewage and waste while maintaining atmospheric pressure in the pipes. Because these cast-iron drainpipes do not use pressure as a means of moving the water and waste materials inside them, seal a split in the pipe yourself until you or someone else can replace the pipe section in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Rag
• Epoxy
• Putty knife
• Pipe clamp
• Screwdriver

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Wipe away any moisture and dirt from the split section of pipe using a rag.

   • 2

     Spread epoxy on the split using a putty knife. This coating of epoxy will harden, forming a watertight seal.

   • 3

     Wrap a rubber-lined pipe clamp around the split section on the pipe as an alternative to using epoxy. Make sure you use a clamp that is the right size to fit the drainpipe. Twist the screws on the clamp clockwise, using a screwdriver, to tighten the clamp onto the pipe.