LJS30
Well-Known Member
Okay guys I need some expert assistance here. I have a very "messy" situation so to speak and need to cut some clay septic line and replace it with ABS. I have done water line repairs but never septic lines. Help!!!!!!!! 
Cutting Clay Septic Tank Line
- Thread starter LJS30
- Start date
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4spdragtop
Well-Known Member
Gloves and rubber boots is all I can say....sorry couldnt resist
prodart340
Well-Known Member
it's gonna get messier yet,,,,,,,,,,use a grinder with a cut off wheel to do your final cut so as to keep it straight. I did mine this way. The first cut can be done with a sawzall blade, the one's put out by milwaukee, labeled "the torch" seem to do a good job. Good luck and may the force be with you,,,,,,,,,,
mullinax95
Well-Known Member
Clay septic lines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????? Oh ****!
LJS30
Well-Known Member
Yes this house is ancient but it has to last me at least three more years until I can get out. Check out the issue.
prodart340
Well-Known Member
looks pretty sh!tty,,,,,,,,sorry,couldn't resist
LJS30
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure if you can tell but basically I have to remove the old hub, cut some line from the tank, and link it with the line from my home.
mullinax95
Well-Known Member
I got cha..... it shouldn't be that bad as long as you get a straight cut on the clay pipe. Sounds like you know what you're doing.
Tnplumber
Well-Known Member
Rent a quickie saw or use a grinder with a masonry disc.
PlumCrazyJay
70 Dart
Always apply the three rules of plumbing. 1 **** runs downhill. 2 Payday's on Friday. 3 Don't put you fingers in your mouth.
OLDFARTSDART
Moe
X2 on the fernco couplers makes the job easier!!!! You don't have to be so critical on your cut.
Moe
Moe
Don't forget the gas mask
Oklacarcollecto
Life is an experiment
Yes this house is ancient but it has to last me at least three more years until I can get out. Check out the issue.
I have that $##$% clay pipe and there is over 1600' of it. I have everything from 4" to 10". It is briddle to cut and easy to have a piece break off while cutting it. The best thing I have found to cut is is a hand held concerte saw with a masonary blade. After several pieces braking off I thought I would try duct tape on the pipe. I wrapped about six wraps around both sides of my spot I was planning on cutting while leaving the area to be cut exposed. The tape also gave me a clean straight line on where to cut and the cuts came out nice and straight with no broken pieces.
mullinax95
Well-Known Member
I guess I'm being nosy but how did the pipe get crushed? Didn't take much probably.
just like blocks, ceramic tile, etc.. score it and hit it. It will crack at the score. It doesn't need to be perfect either. What is called a Fernco no-hub coupling will attach it to the plastic. I dont know if some county codes will still allow schedule 20 but even if ,
dont. Schedule 40 will cost a little more but worth every penny. I used schd' 20 to save a few bucks and the truck that delivered my Propane bottle crushed it. Digging the trench twice is chitty too.
dont. Schedule 40 will cost a little more but worth every penny. I used schd' 20 to save a few bucks and the truck that delivered my Propane bottle crushed it. Digging the trench twice is chitty too.
Oklacarcollecto
Life is an experiment
Below are similar images but not the accurate sizes you need as to what I used. I only make one cut and use a connector like in image 2 to insert in the bell end of the clay pipe. It is a good to soap up the inside of the reducer that goes in the bell so the PVC will slide in easier.
dustman
Well-Known Member
put concrete under the fernco it will sag if you dont
OLDFARTSDART
Moe
Might want to bevel your pipe that goes in the bell and in wet applications I used crisco,you can put pipe together under water with it. Just a thought!!!
Moe
Moe
Oklacarcollecto
Life is an experiment
I have never had any issues using Fernco couplings and I have used many many of them. If you bed your trench with the correct bedding materials for your type of soil and your pipe matches up in length like it should there should be no reason to use concrete. Futhermore using concrete could put you in a bad situation if you ever have to work on that joint again from further clay pipe failure. I like straight clean cuts on all of my pipes and exact fit of the replacement pipe. If you did cut your replacement pipe too short and had a gap in the pipes that the boot was on and you failed to properly bed the line I could see where a sag could happen.
Nice pun Mully...
daredevil
Well-Known Member
Dont need my advice, carry on.
LJS30
Well-Known Member
Okay guys I have successfully made my cuts. However the line to my tank has a blockage of soil and other matter. The tank is fairly empty though so leeching is okay. Would a snake be okay to use with the clay line? Or should I first try running water through the line?
mullinax95
Well-Known Member
IF.... you can afford it I recommend removing all the clay pipe you can get to and install PVC pipe..... especially if you're planing on being there for awhile. Sounds like that clay pipe is going to keep haunting you if you don't get rid of it.
LJS30
Well-Known Member
Well Mullinax here's the scenario. There is a lot of concrete around the pipe where it enters the septic tank. In order to replace that line would I have to simply break up all the concrete, lay a new PVC line, then wrap it up again in concrete?
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