Cast iron stack & drain removal · Coventry & Kent County, RI
Old cast iron out. Modern PVC in.
A specialty most plumbers won't touch: removing rotted cast iron stacks and drain lines from older Rhode Island homes and replacing them with quiet, permanent PVC.
If your home was built before the 1970s — like a lot of Coventry and West Warwick housing stock — there's a good chance the main stack and drains are cast iron. After 50+ years, cast iron rusts from the inside out: flakes snag debris and cause chronic clogs, then the pipe scales shut or cracks and leaks inside your walls.
Wes cuts out the old iron, hauls it away, and replumbs the run in schedule 40 PVC — properly supported, properly pitched, pressure-tested. It's heavy, dirty, skilled work, and it's one of the things he's known for.
Signs your cast iron is failing: recurring clogs in multiple fixtures, sewer smell, rust stains or damp spots on ceilings below bathrooms, and visible flaking or 'barnacles' on exposed pipe in the basement.
Common questions
- How do I know if my cast iron pipes need replacing?
- Chronic clogs, sewer odor, rust stains on the pipe, or damp ceilings under bathrooms. If your house is pre-1970 and still has original drains, an inspection is worth it before something fails inside a wall.
- Can you replace just part of the cast iron?
- Yes — Wes can replace a failed section and tie PVC into sound iron. He'll tell you honestly whether a partial fix makes sense or whether the rest is close behind.
- How disruptive is a stack replacement?
- Usually 1–3 days depending on access. Water stays on outside of working hours, and Wes keeps the mess contained and hauls everything away.
Sound like your problem?
Licensed & insured · RI Master Plumber