Plumbing

Plastic to cast iron toilet waste connection queries

Anonymous user 23 February 2024 - 3.23 PM

Hi, Situation: A damaged section of plastic toilet waste pipe (4inch) has been replaced by a Company and joined back to a cast-iron collar branching into the main cast-iron downpipe (approx.6inch). Company suggested replacing the whole t-piece at the cast-iron end, (cast-iron downpipe has collars above and below the waste pipe join). To avoid disturbing 100+yr old good cast iron pipe I asked to simply replace the broken section and join it to the cast iron collar as previously. The pipes diameters gap was cemented up (“recommended way to do the join”). I didn’t take pictures before they started but am very sure previous join not so and the fit much tighter, can’t remember seeing any cement around the join. A week after the Company left the toilet blocked up - cleared with difficulty. Then it blocked up again no amount of water, specialist plungers, chemical unblockers could clear it; local plumber tried and was giving up when it suddenly cleared after a vigorous bout of plunging. He said that it was probably due to too much cement being used in the joint and forming a lip inside the pipe so narrowing it and leading to easy blocking. Asked Company to fix this but they said it wasn't their fault, everything was done correctly. Questions: 1. Am I right to ask for only the damaged section of plastic pipe to be replaced? 2. Is filling the gap in pipe diameters with cement the correct/proper way to do so? 3. Is there nothing that could/should have been used by the engineer as a joiner/reducer between the pipes so reducing or eliminating cement? 4. Are they right to insist that replacing the whole t-piece is the correct procedure? 5. If so, how is the cast-iron down pipe then connected to the new t-piece above and below the join, more cement at both joins? What's your advice? Many thanks in advance. (I won't name the Company - yet !)