What should you do if you have cast-iron pipes that are 60 years old and hard water that drains slow and normal drain cleaner doesn't help will a diluted muriatic acid or a product like lime away work?

Answer 1

With cast iron pipes that are THAT old you run a real risk of leaks. Get a good estimate of where the sewer line goes to the street, it's usually straight out from the largest sewer pipe stack, closest to the front of the house. It may take a little guessing. If you have an outside clean-out you'll have a good idea where the sewer line goes out. Check to see if any large trees are anywhere near where the sewer pipe goes out. Often a small leak in the sewer pipe will be a real enticment to a tree root, and the root will find a way to even enlarge the leak. Once the root gets inside the sewer pipe it can create a large root ball that will plug the pipe and make it drain slowly. Another possibility is just plain grease buildup over the years that coats the inside of the pipe that effectively reduces the pipe diameter and makes it slow to drain. In either case, a good cleaning is called for. The process requires some special equipment, and it's much easier to take care of the problem BEFORE the pipes plug up completely. In this case I'd call in a professional, but get someone who is licensed and check them out with the Better Business Bureau before you have them come in. Some of these guys will tell you that you need to dig up your front yard and replace the sewer pipes when all you need is a cleaning. Don't misunderstand, you may actually NEED to replace the pipes. Just make sure the guy is reputable.