External toilet flange vs internal toilet flange for an old cust iron pipe

[piezomot]

Hello, I am doing my second floor bathroom renovation now. I removed all floor tiles and the toilet and have found my toilet drain pipe looks like this:

Question: After tiles are installed to fix my toilet flange for an old cust iron pipe-

Should I use external flange to repair it at it shown here:


or should I use the internal flange at it shown here:


Both of them have rubber ring which would expand and keep flange from rocking.

I DO NOT want to use an old lead method:


Thank you!

[jadnashua]

The rubber part is to create the seal so if there were a backup or for sewer gasses, the connection doesn't leak...your CI looks pretty corroded. I'd want to try a wire brush on it to clean things off, then decide if I could get a decent seal either inside or outside. If it's a 4" pipe, if you can get it cleaned up, either should work, but if it is a 3" pipe, you should only consider an external one. If there's enough there, a plumber could install a new leaded joint, too. Not usually something a typical homeowner has the tools necessary to complete.

[Terry]

What you have is a lead closet arm. Lead is soft, and using a compression fitting isn't going to work.
We do sometimes just pull them from the cast iron hub and start over.

[piezomot]

What you have is a lead closet arm. Lead is soft, and using a compression fitting isn't going to work.
We do sometimes just pull them from the cast iron hub and start over.

Thank you Terry for this really professional answer! I really appreciate it.
I refer to this thread below. It looks like this is what I need to do here.
http://www.terrylove.com/forums/show...ll=1#post62919

May I ask you how would you :
A. remove lead closet arm? Use hammer with a chisel? Cut it at the metal pipe flange intake and then heat it up and take it out?
B. secure plastic ABS closet bend pipe to the metal drain?



Thank you again!

[Terry]

I waste a few drill bits going at the lead until I have enough out that I can pry it with a flat blade screwdriver. Eventually you can pull the lead out and the oakum, which is like a rope behind the lead. That prevents the poured lead from dripping down the pipe.

I find the correct size tyseal or Fernco for the hub and tap in either pipe or a 4x3 flush bush. I taper the end of the pipe or bush, lube it with liquid soap and tap it in using a wooden block and a hammer.
Not an easy job though. Sometimes things are pretty snug.
I like to use a 4x3 spigot closet flange that allows for a tigher bend using a 4" hub closet flange. Your standard bends take up too much space when replacing a lead bend.

[piezomot]

Thank you Terry,

I have 4" lead closet arm pipe. I did some youtube search and it looks like they did it differently with the clamp there:


I am just wondering why did they use two clamps there?

[jadnashua]

The fitting wasn't long enough, and they added a short piece of pipe to get the outlet where they wanted it.

[Terry]

They left the brass ferrule and the lead in the fitting, and then they used a no-hub coupling. Some plumbers do that.
Like they mentioned in the video, to do it my way would have been more work.

[piezomot]

They left the brass ferrule and the lead in the fitting, and then they used a no-hub coupling. Some plumbers do that.
Like they mentioned in the video, to do it my way would have been more work.

Would it be appropriate to ask how much would you charge to do it your way? I just would like to figure out how much it will cost me if I hire a plumber here.

Also if you would not recommend to use external or internal flange with a compression fitting, then why did they use a no-hub coupling? Wouldn't this no-hub coupling create any compression to the lead pipe?

[Terry]

Also if you would not recommend to use external or internal flange with a compression fitting, then why did they use a no-hub coupling?

They were using a CAST IRON bend and pipe. They cut the lead off 2" from the stack.

I charge about $500 to replace a bend. And I don't really like doing them.

[piezomot]

They were using a CAST IRON bend and pipe. They cut the lead off 2" from the stack.

I charge about $500 to replace a bend. And I don't really like doing them.

Home repair book would say that banded couplings may be used to connect new plastic pipe to remaining cast iron pipe. How much confidence would you have for the connection of the new plastic pipe to remaining lead pipe?


May be I should just insert 3'' plastic pipe with rubber part (is to create the seal so if there were a backup or for sewer gasses)

into remaining lead pipe instead of using banded coupling?

[jadnashua]

The only way to reuse a lead bend is if the end is not cracked and it is long enough to seal over a new flange ring. You need to bite the bullet and do this right. You will not be able to make a reliable, water AND gas tight connection to what's left of the lead pipe. You may not notice any leaks until there's a clog, then it starts dripping all over the floor under the toilet. If you're out of your comfort zone, it's time for a plumber.

[Terry]

The picture you posted showed the wrong sized shielded coupling. The cast is thinner than the plastic pipe. They make proper couplings for those. They don't really make a good one to go on the lead though. Your idea of pushing a spigot pipe into cast is "interesting".
It's also interesting how many ways a job can be done, many of them I wouldn't allow to be done in my home. Thank goodness for my customers that I treat them the same way.

[piezomot]

I cut lead pipe at some distance from the CI pipe intake, as I discovered brass ferrule (shown by red arrow) right at the CI pipie intake.

It looks like that original scenario for removing lead pipe compleately from the CI intake may not work for me very easy way, as I have to drill out not just lead but brass ferrule out from the CI intake.

[cacher_chick]

The furrule was to maintain the shape of the lead bend at the hub. Once you drill enough holes in the lead that is caulked around the perimeter of the hub, you can pull it out in a few pieces and the joint will come apart.

It's not brain surgery, it's more like pounding a few nails. As long as you don't pound on the hub with a sledgehammer, there is not much there that you can do wrong.