Changing over these pipes to fix leaks is fine. Just understand that there are some drawbacks to PVC. The primary one is not using the correct pipe for the job. The PVC pipes you purchase at the big box stores Schedule 40 is ok, for small jobs. But if your changing a main sewer pipe going through the home, you want to purchase a heavy duty PVC Schedule 80 which is thicker. Primary reason is noise. One benefit of cast pipe is that is silences the noise when the water runs through it.
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The Schedule 40 pipe is noisy. While the thicker 80 works like the cast pipe and keeps the water noise down.
While this may not sound real important. You have not been in a new home eating dinner in dining room when someone flushes a toilet on the second floor. Everyone hears it.
Cast pipes over time begin to flake off in sections inside the pipe. Quite often you can see this result by seeing tiny rust dots or stains on the outside of the pipe. Once this begins the pipe is more prone to plugging as the interior of the pipe becomes rough and catches paper as its flushed down.
When changing them, particularly when the cast runs up the wall, be sure to support these pipes when you remove the damaged section that is lower or below. A lot of weight is combined with these pipes and they can crack easily within the wall if the drop down because of poor support
While this may not sound real important. You have not been in a new home eating dinner in dining room when someone flushes a toilet on the second floor. Everyone hears it.
Cast pipes over time begin to flake off in sections inside the pipe. Quite often you can see this result by seeing tiny rust dots or stains on the outside of the pipe. Once this begins the pipe is more prone to plugging as the interior of the pipe becomes rough and catches paper as its flushed down.
When changing them, particularly when the cast runs up the wall, be sure to support these pipes when you remove the damaged section that is lower or below. A lot of weight is combined with these pipes and they can crack easily within the wall if the drop down because of poor support