How to caulk a cast iron sewer pipe. How to caulk a cast-iron sewer pipe: caulking and how to caulk an old pipe

Cast iron is a heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant, durable material that can withstand heavy loads. Its main purpose is the device of sewer and water communication. But you should not completely pin your hopes on the cast-iron sewer, since it also has disadvantages, they need special care and repair. In this article, we will look at how to caulk cast-iron pipes with your own hands.

In order to exclude depressurization of individual sections of communications, it is necessary to repair the internal pipes in a timely manner and take preventive measures, removing lime deposits, rust and other organic growths from their surface.

Chasing

The essence of the preparatory work is to inspect and determine the welded places. There are two methods for gluing cast iron pipe parts: gluing the elements with a welding seam and pouring with a mortar. Bonding of parts with a special solution is used if it is necessary to combine pipes of various configurations and diameters. And with a welding seam, fan pipes of the same diameter are mainly glued together. After a visual inspection of the sewer and determining the complexity of the work, you can proceed to the next stage - dismantling.

Most often, over the years, pipes grow together so strongly that it is very difficult to disassemble the sewer. In this case, you need a gas cutter, with which you can disconnect the spliced sections in a short period of time and without effort.

Before proceeding with the caulking of pipes, it is necessary to turn off the water supply. If possible, it is necessary to shut off the water supply system.

The designated section of the pipe, which is to be replaced, is sawn off by a grinder. When sawing damaged areas, strong blows should not be made in order to prevent the formation of cracks in subsequent sections.
After the removal of damaged sections of the pipe is completed, they proceed to install a new pipe with a certain margin for its expansion.

The edges of the pipe, which are inserted into the pipe, are fixed together with a resin strand using a caulk.

Pipe branch

This process is very complex and differs markedly from the previous method. This is argued by the fact that this area is risky and if the caulking is carried out incorrectly, then the riser can be split along the drop line.

Before you start disassembling the pipe, you need to take a hammer and tap on the entire surface of the socket. When tapping, you can determine the method of embossing.

If the bell easily gives in and staggers, then it was minted with a rope and a camboca. In this case, you will need an ordinary screwdriver and pliers. When loosening, a rope should appear, which must be hooked with a screwdriver and taken out to the surface. To make it easier to pull out the rope, it must be grabbed with pliers at the same time, without ceasing to loosen the socket.

Caulking a cast-iron pipe with sulfur eliminates deformation and loosening, therefore, not a hammer or other percussion instrument will help with this. In this case, you will need a blowtorch or a gas burner to burn the sulfur seam. From a high temperature, sulfur will begin to dry out and fall off. After the sulfur has crumbled, take a hammer and follow the same procedure as described in the previous method of caulking a pipe with a rope.

Perform tapping until the bell starts to move, so that it is convenient to loosen the bell, take an adjustable wrench and begin to carry out oscillatory movements from side to side, pulling it towards you. The loosened socket is taken out with a chisel and cleaned.

The saddle should be flat without distortions so that the sealing gum lies tightly to the surface.

The surface of the gum is coated with silicone and inserted into the tee of the bell. At this stage, the caulking and caulking of the cast-iron pipe is completed.

Video

We bring to your attention a video dedicated to chasing pipes.

Before the advent of new materials, such as metal-plastic or plastic pipes, most houses had steel or cast-iron sewers. Before installing a new pipeline, it is necessary to dismantle the old one, which is not an easy task, because earlier cast-iron structures were connected with cement mortar, aluminum or sulfur. Such a pipeline is difficult to dismantle, so it is worth preparing for a laborious and protracted process.

When dismantling a cast-iron sewer, a wide variety of tools can be used, because it all depends on the method and material of chasing. However, the most important devices can be distinguished - these are:

grinder, with which you can cut out a pipeline element;
grinding or cutting discs;
blowtorch;
a set of different screwdrivers, a hammer;
chisel;
special pipe wrench;
goggles, a mask, and when disassembling structures that were connected with gray, also a headdress;
perforator;
nail puller or crowbar;
pipe cutter;
chisel or steel wedge;
iron bucket with water.

Before starting work, it is worth determining the connection method in order to sketch out a rough plan for how to disassemble the cast-iron sewer.

Moments of dismantling cast iron

With a complete replacement of the structure with a plastic one, you can not do extra work and just smash everything with a hammer. This is quite easy to do, because cast iron is considered a brittle material. However, if only part of the pipeline needs to be dismantled, the work must be done more carefully.

Before dismantling the cast-iron sewer, it is necessary to inspect the entire system to determine the area that will be repaired. Then be sure to turn off the water supply so that the drains do not enter the sewer. Further disassembly is carried out in stages:

The part of the pipe located below the connection is cut off.
The pipe is separated from the socket. The embossing methods will be discussed in more detail.
If you remove the connection just does not come out, use a blowtorch or make surrounding cuts 20 mm long.

When carrying out procedures, it is imperative to use all protective equipment due to the injury risk of this work.

Caulking of the pipeline with sulfur compound

Regardless of how the cast-iron sewer was connected, it is imperative to carry out some standard preparatory work before replacing:

turn off the water;
disconnect the hose leading to the toilet;
remove the toilet itself by unscrewing the bolts;
clean the bathroom of appliances and furniture.

To determine whether sulfur was really used when connecting pipes, you need to bring a blowtorch to the seam. Under the influence of high temperatures, sulfur melts, accompanying this process with an unpleasant odor.

When disassembling cast-iron sewer pipes, work begins from the farthest corner. The element must be broken with a hammer. It is better to use a tool with a plastic or polymer base, because the sewer can become clogged due to metal nozzles. Having found the cross leading to the riser, it is necessary to loosen it as much as possible.

Then you need to prepare a blowtorch or gas burner. At least two people should be involved in heating up the connections. While one warms up and melts sulfur, the other must loosen the structure. When doing this, be sure to use gloves and other protective equipment.

When the connecting substance is completely melted, the crosspiece can be removed from the riser. At the same time, you should be very careful, you need to remember to remove the remaining sulfur, and then let the riser cool thoroughly. If the cast iron structure is too strong, you can always make a few cuts near the pipe that needs to be removed. This will make the extraction process easier.

Cement bonded pipeline caulking

Dismantling cast iron pipes that have been connected with cement is practically the same as the above-mentioned option with sulfur, but it is much safer. This is because when sulfur melts, a lot of carbon monoxide is released.

To start dismantling, you need to cut off part of the pipe. In this case, it is worth retreating at least 30 cm from the junction. The hardened cement is removed with a hammer, which must be beaten with a screwdriver or a chisel inserted into the hole. All procedures should be performed as carefully as possible so as not to damage the socket.

When the joints are freed from cement, you need to try to loosen the main pipe. In order not to process the sewer with a blowtorch or a burner, it is necessary to remove the cable, but if this cannot be dispensed with, it is necessary to heat it up strongly or use a specialized key. For example, for a 50 mm pipe, tool Nos. 3 and 4 are used.

The crosspiece is located below on the main riser. To remove it, you can simply use a hammer with a screwdriver. At the same time, for some time, you need to lightly tap on the tee itself in order to form a small gap between it and the pipe. Then you need to penetrate this opening, pry off the tee and remove it. It will take a lot of time to carry out these manipulations, in addition, this method is ineffective.

The next option is to use a blowtorch or burner. Dismantling is much faster, but the price for this is an unpleasant smell that takes a long time to disappear. First of all, you need to cut the socket of the cross. Then a heating device is placed in the pipe. A metal shield is applied to the upper part of the pipe in order to be able to regulate the draft inside the riser. When heated, you need to start swinging the pipe and, as soon as possible, remove the dismantled tee.

You can also use a grinder. To do this, you must first cut off parts of the tee, leaving a small piece in the pipe. Then put a medium-sized disk that could freely get inside, and cut through the remaining parts of the structure with a grinder, knocking them out with a hammer.

What to do in case of failure?

The dismantling of the pipeline is carried out to the permissible limit, because it is better to cut the pipe before it passes into the socket. At the same time, joining a cast-iron pipeline with a plastic one will take much less effort and time. It is better to cut the structure with a grinder, but if it is not there, you can use a hacksaw to work with metal. The use of this tool can greatly increase the duration of the dismantling process.

If the dismantling failed, do not be upset, because you can simply purchase a specialized transitional coupling, with which cast-iron and polymer pipes are connected.

If you have difficulty cutting the pipe, you can cut it in half. Then you need to apply slight pressure or rotate so that the element bursts. If it cannot be removed from the socket, you just need to make several cuts in a circle with an interval of 20 mm, after which it can be removed from the riser.

Before starting the connection of the cast-iron and polymer pipeline, it is necessary to clean the first option of sulfur by heating. After removing the substance, it is necessary to leave the pipes for several hours and allow them to cool.

Not all users know how to mint a cast-iron sewer pipe. Moreover, not everyone understands what is at stake. However, during the assembly or reconstruction of the sewer system, the ability to correctly caulk pipe joints is very useful.

In many houses, old cast-iron pipelines are still preserved, which it is not advisable to completely change to modern plastic. The pipes are still strong, able to work for decades. As a rule, they are left intact, replacing only apartment horizontal wiring sections. Consider how the connection of cast-iron pipes is made during the installation of drainage systems.

Features of cast iron pipes

Cast iron pipes were used everywhere in Soviet times. Alternative materials for manufacturing were used on a limited scale, for the assembly of special . The properties of cast iron pipelines allow the old system to still work. The advantages of these pipelines:

strength;
long service life;
resistance to temperature changes;
ability to work with aggressive liquids.

The disadvantages are:

tendency to corrosion;
big weight;
fragility, inability to withstand sharp blows;
assembly complexity.

The most significant drawback is the complicated connection procedure, or chasing of cast-iron sewer pipes. In combination with the heavy weight of the parts that create a significant load on the supporting structures, such drainage lines were difficult to install and maintain. However, the durability and reliability of cast iron systems is appreciated by experts. All networks, the condition of which does not inspire concern, are still effectively used for wastewater disposal.

Connection methods

The assembly of cast iron pipelines is a complex and responsible task. There are several types of connections:

into the socket This is the most popular type, which is called "chasing sewer pipes." The process requires accuracy and experience, exact observance of technology requirements. Proper caulking withstands several decades of exploitation of leak postures;
coupling connection. This option is used for socketless pipes. Special couplings are used that tightly wrap around the edges of the connected elements. The build quality is high, no special experience and skills are required to perform the work. However, there are not always necessary conditions for installing a coupling.

There are couplings that are not equipped with threaded clamps. They are two sockets into which the ends of the connected elements are inserted. The assembly of such lines also requires embossing of sewer pipes, performed according to standard technology.

The procedure consists in filling the socket gap with a sealant, and sealing with hardening compounds. As a sealant, a tarred hemp strand is most often used, which is stuffed into 2/3 of the socket and carefully compacted. Then the remaining third is filled with a durable protective compound. To do this, use cement, plumbing sulfur. In pressure lines, lead chasing is sometimes used, the procedure is complex, but very effective.

How to chisel a bell

During repair work, reconstruction or expansion of the drainage system, it often becomes necessary to connect different lines. Before you mint a sewer pipe, you often have to disassemble the old, defective connection. It is extremely difficult to strike a bell, which over the years has been overgrown with monolithic layers. The main problem is the danger of destroying the socket of an entire pipe or tee. If this happens, you will have to disassemble and change the entire riser or horizontal pipeline.

Before you chisel out the old cast-iron sewer, it is necessary to clean the connecting element, remove all foreign objects and layers. As a rule, various temporary patches of paint, additional layers of mortar, and other materials are applied over the standard connection. All such areas are subject to complete removal.

After that, it is necessary to determine what material the insulating seal is made of, since cement is much easier to mint a cast-iron sewer than sulfur. If a cement mortar is used, the process of disassembling the connection will be easier. However, if plumbing sulfur was used, the procedure will be complicated. The material will have to be heated with a gas burner or a blowtorch, since it will not be possible to simply break and remove particles from the gap - sulfur has high strength and viscosity. You will have to work in a gas mask, because when heated, toxic gases will be released.

Procedure

In order to chisel, you must first remove the cement or sulfur filling (1/3 of the socket depth), and then remove the hemp strand (2/3 of the depth). The first stage requires caution and accuracy. There is a high risk of breaking the socket of a tee or other receiving element. First, they act with a chisel, then with a screwdriver with a long thin sting. With gentle hammer blows, the screwdriver is immersed in the gap, breaking off small pieces of the seal.

Many sources recommend first tapping the socket around the circumference with a hammer, and then checking to see if the pipeline has any mobility. This is useless advice, since it is impossible to mint a cast-iron sewer in this way. Until the top layer of cement or sulfur is removed, it will not be possible to swing the pipe. In addition, hammer blows can break the socket, which will significantly increase the amount of work.

When the hard plug is removed, the connection will gain mobility. It is shifted a little to the side, the rope is picked up and pulled out, swinging the pipe to the sides to facilitate the process. After that, the socket will be completely released, the connecting element can be easily removed.

How to mint

Caulking is a procedure for sealing, sealing a connecting element. It is necessary to prepare materials, tools:

oiled rope (hemp strand);
cement (or asbestos-cement) mortar;
a wooden spatula freely entering the gap of the socket;
long screwdriver;
a hammer.

The caulking of sockets of sewer pipes takes place in 2 stages:

stuffing the gap with tow or rope (bondage). Using a cord is considered a more efficient option. The sealant is inserted into the gap, they begin to wind it around the pipe, constantly ramming it with a spatula. The material must be compacted and immersed in the gap until it stops. The process is stopped when the gap is filled to 2/3 of the depth;
cement mortar is poured over the sealant into the gap. It is pushed with a wooden spatula or a screwdriver, evenly distributing the material throughout the entire volume of the cavity. The quantity should be such that the entire gap is completely filled to the very top of the socket.

Chasing a bell with gray at home is not practiced. It is necessary to melt lump sulfur with 10-15% kaolin, which requires special equipment and enhanced ventilation. This method is possible only in the factory.

Video review:

Everything useful about sewerage -

The main advantage of cast iron is durability, its main disadvantage is brittleness. These two features must be taken into account when maintaining and repairing cast iron pressure pipes.
The brittleness of cast iron imposes certain requirements on the connection of cast iron pipes. On the one hand, it must be strong and tight, and on the other hand, it must be sufficiently elastic. The fact is that pipes laid in the ground do not lie motionless. The soils are also characterized by shrinkage and blurring. When freezing, the water in the ground expands. All this leads to the movement of the ground. The pipe, as they say, "walks". Traditionally this problem is solved chasing pipes- connecting pipes in such a way that there is a margin of elasticity at the joints.
The smooth end of one pipe is inserted into the socket of the other. A small 3-5 mm gap remains at the junction, which is caulked with a resin strand (kabolka) two-thirds of the depth. The strand is a thin rope, which is inserted into the gap in layers. After each turn, the strand is compacted with a caulk - a special tool. Such a connection allows you to connect the pipe hermetically, but with a margin of elasticity.
To increase the strength of the joint, the remaining third of the gap is cemented or filled with lead. The second option is more reliable and preferable, because. connections in pressure pipes experience significant loads. Both procedures are quite complex and time-consuming. Cement behaves capriciously at high or low humidity, work with the melting of lead requires dexterity and additional preparations.
More advanced methods of connecting cast-iron pressure pipes are currently being used. For example, a socket with a rubber sealing ring and a socket-screw connection. But these compounds began to be used relatively recently. Recall that the advantage of cast iron is durability. The service life of cast iron pressure pipes is more than a hundred years. And, therefore, pipelines made according to old technologies are still actively exploited.

Chasing cast iron pipes: process features

Chasing socket connection can be safely called the weakest point of the cast-iron pipeline. Under the influence of moisture, temperature changes and soil movement for decades, the coinage is destroyed. Typically, accidents caused destruction of coinage, are eliminated for a long time. Procedure minting time-consuming, requiring a certain skill. But even high qualification does not guarantee the absence of marriage. The liquidation of an accident is often carried out in difficult conditions: low temperatures, difficult access to the damaged area, watering of the pit, humidity that prevents the solution from hardening. Fussing with molten lead in such conditions is generally more like a repairman's nightmare. Alas, this dream often comes true. It is almost impossible to perform high-quality coinage during the liquidation of a complex accident.
Our company's product range includes a special type of fittings that can significantly reduce the time required to eliminate this type of accident and improve the quality of repair work on a cast-iron pipeline. This is a DZ socket sealer. With him, all work comes down to installing the product on the socket connection and fixing it with a conventional wrench. The rubber gasket securely seals the joint, without depriving it of the necessary elasticity, and the design itself firmly fixes the joint. Work can be carried out even without completely shutting off the pressure, but only by lowering it so that the leak does not interfere with the repair team. The reliability of the connection of cast-iron pressure pipes with the help of a socket joint sealer is several times higher than the reliability of traditional caulking. And, therefore, once the work is done, the problem will be eliminated once and for all.

Cast iron pipes are used when laying internal and external sewerage, and sockets are necessary to connect its individual parts. Do-it-yourself caulking of cast-iron pipes is a complex and time-consuming process. Find out how such pipes are joined, and what tools and materials are used.

Installation of an additional compactor by a team of repairmen

Chasing and chasing cast iron pipes

Cast iron is the most durable and most brittle pipe material. That is why the connection of this material must be strong and elastic.

The joint of cast-iron pipes, made by caulking

Freezing, groundwater expands, resulting in a displacement of the soil. As a result, pipes laid underground also move. In order for the joints to remain airtight under any conditions, a “margin of elasticity” is left at the joints. Pipes of external lines are damaged by water hammer and heavy traffic.

Sequence of work

First, the pipe joint is inspected to determine how they were connected. A gas cutter or a grinder will help to separate tightly fused pipes. Before starting work, turn off the water supply throughout the house.

The procedure is performed as carefully as possible, cast iron is easily damaged. First, the bell is lightly tapped with a hammer so that you do not have to change the entire riser. Then they loosen it in different directions, wrap it with a rope and pull it. After slowly pulling out the pipe element. You can also make an incision with a grinder at the bell itself. The rest of the pipe is drilled with a drill.

The end of one pipe is inserted into the socket of the other. At the junction, a gap is left (no more than 5 mm), which is filled with a special strand - a cable. This strand is made of a thin rope, the gap between the pipes is filled in layers. Each layer is sealed with a caulk. So you can create a tight and elastic connection.

In order for the connection to withstand high loads, 1/3 of the gap is filled with lead or cement. The first option is more reliable, but requires experience and skill. The second option is difficult to implement at high or low humidity.

There are more technologically advanced ways to connect cast iron pipes: bell-shaped with a rubber seal and bell-screw.

Lead casting

Repairmen use white or red clay, rope (20 cm longer than the pipe diameter and 15 mm thick), lead.

A rope is wrapped around the pipe, then pulled tight. The bell is coated with clay.
The rope is pulled out, a clay funnel is made at the top (a sprue 10 cm high), through which molten lead is poured.
Lead is melted in an iron cauldron over a fire. The metal must be heated well enough, otherwise it will harden ahead of time and will not fill the socket.
When pouring lead, safety regulations must be observed. To avoid splashing, pieces of stearin are thrown into the mold.
After hardening, the clay mold is removed, the lead bay is inspected. It should fill the socket without cavities and gaps.

Sealing with cement (asbestos-cement) mortar

First, a resin bundle is installed in the hole between the pipe and the socket, then it is compacted.
Cement and water are mixed in a ratio of 9:1. The gap between the socket and the pipe is filled with the prepared solution.
Sometimes the winding seal is coated with asbestos cement in several layers.

First, the joint is sealed, then the strands are compacted, at the end the joint is poured with asbestos-cement mortar

The hardening of the solution may interfere with high humidity.

Video: chasing a fun tee

Additional compactor - an alternative to embossing

A tool for chasing

Chasing is short-lived, there are several reasons for this: temperature changes, high humidity, soil shifts. But there is an additional seal - fittings, which can reduce the duration of pipe repair, prevent leakage and improve the quality of the connection. The design of the device is simple: two openable rings are completed with a rubber gasket, bolts and nuts for the coupler. The element is installed on the socket, and then fixed with a wrench. Work can be done without blocking the pressure, but only by reducing it.

The size of the clamp must match the diameter of the pipe.
Before installation, clean the surface of the pipe near the socket.
Mount the gasket with the flat side to the socket. The ends of the seal are connected.
Close the clamp around the pipe, install the studs, tighten the nuts.

It is necessary to install an additional seal on water and sewer lines. For enhanced protection, an anti-corrosion epoxy coating is used.

Video: installation of a socket sealer

The tightness of the joints is important in both internal and external communications. Sealing materials are durable polyethylene tapes, liquid rubber (silicone sealing rings). To switch from cast iron to plastic, a rubber adapter lubricated with silicone sealant is used.

Breaks in the line, caused by the destruction of the pipe at the junction, are eliminated for a long time, and the result of the work is not always of high quality. Making a tight connection in a hard-to-reach place is always a difficult and painstaking job. Planned preventive measures will help to avoid emergencies and save money.