Cost To Replace A Cast Iron Stack (Is It Worth It?)

By |Published On: May 26th, 2021|Categories: Residential Plumbing, Sewer Systems|
  • Cost To Replace A Cast Iron Stack

Is the cost to replace a cast iron stack in your home worth it? What even is a cast iron stack? How will you know when it’s time to repair or replace it? This article will go over all these questions and more.

What Is A Cast Iron Stack?

The sewer stack, also known as a drain-waste-vent (DWV), connects your toilets, showers, and other drains and sends them down vertically to the main sewer connection. But the stack also leads up to your roof at a vent allowing gas to escape, keeping odor and toxic smells from building up in your home.

Cost To Replace A Cast Iron Stack

Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Cast Iron Stack

If you notice any of these strange signs in your home, it’s time to call an expert.

  • Constant Backups – If you have backups in all of your toilets, sinks, and showers, the cast iron stack (which connects all of them) is probably faulty.

  • Sewer Odor – If you can smell sewage in your house, you can be confident that your cast iron stack is damaged. That foul smell will ruin your home’s ambiance.

    Read also: How to get rid of sewer odor in your home

  • Slow Drains – A slow drain is a clear sign that something is wrong with your cast iron stack. We can determine if the problem is just a blockage or actual damage to the pipe with a simple CCTV sewer camera inspection.

Cost To Replace A Cast Iron Stack

  • Unnatural Yard Growth – If sewage is leaking from a pipe into your yard, you are going to see a few telltale signs. For one, the grass in certain areas will seem suspiciously luscious. Sewage acts as a fertilizer for your grass, making it grow faster in affected areas. You may also notice dips and valleys forming due to the soil dissipating under the grass.

  • Foundation Issues – When a drain pipe leaks sewage, the excess water will cause the soil to expand and shrink (if the foundation was built on top of expansive soil) causing your foundation to shift.

  • Insects or Rodents – If a stack is damaged, rats, mice, sewer flies, cockroaches, or palmetto bugs can enter your home. Calling pest control may eliminate the current invaders, but the pipe is still cracked, and they will come back. 

  • Tree Roots – Older trees on your property are bound to have long, invasive roots. They seek out nutrients, sensing pipes flowing with waste or water. The roots attack the joints where the lines are their weakest. Once they’re inside, they drink and drink until the roots clog up your pipes.

  • Barnacles – You may notice tiny rust spots appearing on your pipes. These weaken the metal and lead to leaks, or even total collapse. Your stack may be hidden and the spots may not be noticeable, but if you do see them, call a plumber now!

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Cast Iron Stack?

The cost to replace your cast iron stack should be transparent and clear to anyone searching for replacement. Most companies will charge per job, but here we give you rough estimates for the average cost. All prices depend on the size of the project, materials used, and labor.

A method of replacement that has been perfected is called trenchless sewer repair.

Read more about: Benefits Of Replacing Cast Iron Pipe With PVC

Trenchless sewer repair can cost anywhere between $4,000-$15,000 for the average single-family home. Jobs range from a few feet of repair to hundreds of feet, changing the pricing per amount of needed work. There will always be a base cost starting at permits, contractor mobilization, project minimums, and then prices move on from there.

Cost To Replace A Cast Iron Stack

Conventional sewer repair, on average, costs $50 to $450 per linear foot. The price to install brand new pipes throughout your home or yard could run to $15,000 because of all the extensive work, such as trenching and excavation. Conventional sewer repair quotes will be lower than trenchless, but they don’t include the cost to clean up the mess and repair the property damage.

Who Can Replace A Cast Iron Stack Near You

Now that you know the signs to replace, options, and their cost, it’s time that New Flow Plumbing comes in to save the day.

We’ll get you started with a CCTV sewer camera inspection to determine where your problems come from. Then, we give you a free repair estimate, followed by available repair options. Whatever the issue, New Flow Plumbing will have your plumbing running perfectly again.

Cost To Replace A Cast Iron Stack

About the Author: New Flow Plumbing Inc.

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