Drain pipe replacement is needed when old pipes leak at the joints, keep clogging or smell, or when a bathroom is being renovated and the old cast iron pipes are not worth leaving under new tiles. We replace drain pipes inside the building: in an apartment from the riser to the fixtures, in a private house up to where the pipe passes through the foundation. Replacing one section costs from €50, and we agree the price before the work starts.
In an apartment building, your part is the pipes from the fixtures to the riser. The riser itself, with the tee that the apartment pipe enters, is the building's common property. So you can order pipe replacement in the apartment yourself, but replacing a riser section is agreed with the house manager.
For riser work see the riser replacement page, and for who pays for what, the article who pays for riser replacement.
In a private house we work inside the building up to the outer wall or foundation. We do not offer external drainage in the yard or connection to the city sewer or a septic tank.
In older buildings the apartment drainage is often still cast iron. The LV portāls summary of Cabinet Regulation No. 906 gives a service life of 60 years for drain pipework with cast iron fittings, and 15–30 years for other drain pipes depending on the type.
Cast iron builds up deposits inside, the pipe's cross-section narrows, and water drains slowly. The joints used to be sealed with oakum and cement, which crumbles over time, and that is where water starts to seep and smell comes through.
The new pipes are PVC or polypropylene with rubber seals in the sockets. The transition from plastic to the remaining cast iron riser is made with a special adapter seal, and it is one of the most important points of the job.
If one joint at the toilet or bath is leaking and the other pipes are plastic, replacing that section or the seal is enough. If the pipes are cast iron and leak in several places, fixing them one spot at a time does not pay off, because the old pipe cracks next to the repair when it is moved.
If the riser itself or its tee is leaking, tell the house manager and the neighbours below. If water is already on the floor, see water leak repair.
Inspection
We assess the route, the diameters (usually 50 mm for the sink, bath and shower, 110 mm for the toilet), the fall and whether the pipes are in the floor, in boxing or exposed.
Access
The boxing or floor where the pipes run is opened. Restoring tiles and boxing is not plumbing work and is agreed in advance.
Removal
The old cast iron is cut into sections and taken out of the tee socket, taking care not to damage the riser.
New pipes
The new pipes are laid with a continuous fall towards the riser and fixed with clamps, and an access point for cleaning is left where needed.
Testing
The fixtures are connected and water is run from several at once to check that all joints are dry and the water drains without gurgling.
| Job | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Drain pipe replacement | from €50 | per section (1 fixture connection up to about 2 m); longer runs per metre |
| Pipe replacement in the whole apartment | from €500 | water and drain pipes from the risers: bathroom and the branch to the kitchen |
| Riser section replacement | from €100 | for 1 riser within one floor, agreed with the house manager |
The price depends on the pipe length and the number of connected fixtures, and on old cast iron that has to be cut out of the tee or whether the tee or a riser section also has to be replaced. It also depends on whether the pipes are in the floor, under tiles or in boxing, and on the diameter.
The price does not include materials (pipes, adapters to cast iron, fittings), restoring tiles and floor, removal of construction waste, or shutting off the riser, which the house manager does. If the pipes are only clogged but sound, drain cleaning is enough. All jobs are on the plumbing services page.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drain pipe replacement | from €50 | per section; materials extra |
| Pipe replacement in the whole apartment | from €500 | water and drain pipes, risers excluded |
Sources
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