On the ABS vs. PVC for DWV lines. ABS used to be quite popular but has
almost completely fallen out of use in parts of the USA, I don't know
what the issue is, both are allowed by code and ABS is actually a bit
easier to work and glue, the only place I still see ABS used is in
prefab construction, mobile homes, RV's and the like. There is no good
way to glue ABS to PVC, there is something called transition cement, but
the inspector may or may not allow it, the only thing universally
allowed is a transition fitting, it's a rubber boot, a metal sleeve and
a couple of big hose clamps, it's usually called a "Fernco". In my house
we have cast iron, galvanized (DIY), copper DWV, ABS and PVC depending
on the age. The galvanized drain line was a bad DIY choice by a previous
owner of my house, he was a joke as a home improver. As time allows it's
all going away and in the end there will be a cast iron stack and all
other lines will be PVC. And water lines will be PEX, the PEX tool is a
one time investment but the payback is pretty fast, you make great long
swooping runs of plumbing with very minimal fittings, very few cuts,
almost no elbows or tees; no solder, no glue, no mess. It needs about
the same number of supports as CPVC or copper but is much easier to work.
Mike
On 10/4/2015 5:03 PM, Bob Younger wrote:
A small point, but low pressure sewage and drain lines are usually ABS, not PVC. But Ken's point is well taken; they should all be replaced.
Ken, where is the studio-for-sale?
Bob Younger
On Sun, Oct 4, 2015 at 2:50 PM, Ken Hart <kwhart1@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:kwhart1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
You have received a lot of good (IMHO!) advice so far. If the
waste stack is cast iron, IDEALLY, it should be replaced
completely with PVC, from each and every drain, all the way to the
city sewer or your private septic tank. This would most likely not
be a trivial job.
The "lug nut" you mention: is this a collar around the pipe that
joins two pipes together, or is it a drain plug? If the former,
then clean the area, and use some sort of epoxy (JB Weld or
similar) to seal the leak. If that fails in the future, then you
are looking at replacing the cast iron pipe- bad news. If it is a
cleanout drain plug, remove it, clean the threads where it screws
in with a wire brush, and install a new plug using teflon tape-
small job. Even better if the new plug is PVC.
(You might want to search for home improvement TV shows such as
"This Old House" on the subject of replacing a cast iron waste
stack. The big hassles are the weight of the pipe, the heavy-duty
tools required, and not to mention, what has been going through
the pipe!)
As for the supply lines: a plastic pipe (PVC for cold or CPVC for
hot or cold) will be best. Cast iron pipes rust, build up scale,
and fail more quickly than plastic. Someone else mentioned PEX
pipe, which requires special tools and experience to install. PVC
and CPVC are handyman friendly, PEX is not. PEX is flexible, which
may be a good thing in an older home.
A hot water heater tank allows any sediment to settle in the tank.
It should be periodically flushed by turning off the power/gas,
and opening the bottom valve until the water runs clear.
I have a whole house water filter and filters at the darkroom
sink. The whole house filter keeps the water heater and toilets
cleaner, and the filters in the darkroom are backup- suspenders
and a belt! When you are developing film, you can't have too many
water filters!
I think the best solution for you is to sell your home, and buy my
studio, which already has a working darkroom installed!
Ken Hart
On 10/04/2015 11:10 AM, Adrienne Moumin wrote:
Hi, group,
After being out of commission for several months, from
photography and life, due to being sidelined by a broken foot, I
am slowly coming back to life to tackle the piles of overwhelm
that have accumulated during my incapacitation. I have two issues
in my darkroom, one brand-new and one not as new, that are
bedevilling me. Our 1949 money pit continues to wreak havoc on my
art and my life, 10 years on...
_Issue 1_: The other day I had our neighborhood
handyman/renovator over for a toilet issue on the 3rd floor. He
asked about the main waste stack, which of course is in my
basement darkroom - in a corner behind the sink. When I had the
darkroom built about 8 years ago, I painted everything, including
the ugly chipped-paint waste stack (original to the house), to
make it all look clean and new. Everything was (I thought) fine,
until the other day when I took my renovator down there, to
discover a huge brown drip (now dried), which began at the place
where the (sic) lug nut is, and extending down past the point of
the sink top, where I can't see how far down the drip extends. It
looks more like rust rather than anything else, but the fact that
any liquid at all came out of there is worrisome to me - since it
means total dismantling of the sink and its plumbing and all the
chemistry etc. stored below...let's just say after 10 years of
incessant home repair issues, I have dug in my heels against the
life-disruption of any more except those which cannot be avoided.
I prefer to do my art in a house that is an eyesore, than to give
up doing the things I love and have my time stolen from me, in
service to any more of this unending nonsense.
My renovator friend tried to tighten this huge lug nut thing, to
no avail. He told me I could "fix" this by cleaning up the rusty
drip if I was bothered by it, and then running a bead of silicone
caulk around where the drip emanated (which he said is merely
screw threads so it's not a huge surprise that something leaked).
But I am nervous about this as a solution, since it has never
leaked before. He also said he could remove that whole section of
the waste stack, and replace it with newer material.
_Issue 2_: For about 6 months, I have noticed that replacing the
water filters, results in them getting rusty/filthy VERY quickly,
even though I only use the darkroom sporadically. The hot filter
is much worse than the cold, although I noticed the other day
when I was in there with my renovator, that the cold is also
affected over the past few months of my not being able to get in
there.
This is has happened a number of times - to the point where I
have taken to buying water filters in groups of 6 and replacing
them nearly every time I use the darkroom, which is a ridiculous
remedy and does not solve the issue. It seems to have gotten
worse after I was compelled to have my friend replace some of the
metal plumbing connectors which were actually corroding since
they were not meant to be wet, and leaching small chunks of metal
into the water (why the original builder of the darkroom would
use such connectors in the first place is beyond my comprehension...)
I have read that nearby excavations can cause excess rust in
water coming in to a house - and there is a TON of excavation
going on all over the neighborhood, for new construction, new
roads, etc. But I'm not sure if this is the cause of this (rust?)
building up in the filters or not.
So I thought I would ask all of you, fount (font?) of collective
knowledge and experience, if anyone may have dealt with either of
these issues, and might have some insight.
With thanks,
Adrienne
/Adrienne Moumin
Handmade B&W photographs and photo
collages:/http://picturexhibit.com <http://picturexhibit.com>
NYC and Silver Spring, MD
212-602-1809 <tel:212-602-1809>
