Holes in drain under toilet - pics

NowItsShowtime · 09-30-2009, 11:01 AM

WHat is the best and most economical way of going about this repair. I happen to be pretty handy but could use some guidance.

Someone said fill it in with lead. I have stick and mig welding experience but never looked into filling it with lead.

I can pretty easily get about 5 inches below the top layer of concrete (hollow under the floor for a few inches) so I can cut a big hole and lay a sawzall flat and get a clean cut under the holes. From there am I better off replacing it with a new cast iron/steel pipe and use a rubber clamp/gasket and metal clamp over it. Or maybe do the same thing but out of PVC and clamp a rubber sleeve and metal clamp over it. I don't want to make more work than what it is.

And here is the pic of ONE hole, theres another one on the other side. What are these holes even from. If it was frozen line on the inside it would push out.

majakdragon · 09-30-2009, 12:17 PM

That looks like a lead closet bend. The hole in the picture sure seems to be pretty round, as in drilled or punched in, and it looks like burrs were formed around it when it was made. I would replace it with PVC and No-hub connectors.

rsmith1024 · 10-01-2009, 06:21 AM

Whatever you do, just make sure that you wash your hand thoroughly and repeatedly when you come in contact with lead. Preferably a sanitizer would be the best to kill the harmful effects that lead can cause to your health.

NowItsShowtime · 10-05-2009, 11:13 AM

well i spoke to my plumber and he said I could of course replace it, but may be a lot mroe time and work, or he said go with what he explained was an epoxy type of system where you mix the two parts, specifically made for lead applications. I think its the stuff that comes in a tube taht is putty and he said mix it up and put that over the hole.

Can anyone vouch for this method. I hate for this to be a temp fix and in 5 years I have to dig it up again.

majakdragon · 10-05-2009, 01:04 PM

The Plumber is probably talking about JB Weld. It makes a really strong patch on metal surfaces. Available at most hardware or Home Centers.

NowItsShowtime · 10-05-2009, 01:32 PM

I'm familiar with JB weld and I'll have to ask him if thats what its called. Personally I was never a fan of it when I had to use it and I'm not conviced it would be good enough. I suppose with a really good cleaning and maybe roughed up it might work, but I'd only expect temporary results

majakdragon · 10-06-2009, 11:45 AM

Perhaps yopu didn't mix it correctly or the surface was oily. I have used it to repair holes in a pump casing that had some pretty high pressure and it worked.