Plumbers!!! Cast iron plumbing is loaded with deposits--any solution?

Question

My friend's house is about 60 years old and some of the water pressure in the kitchen, upstairs bath and others is very low---city water. I believe it's from lots of deposits in the cast iron pipes reducing the water flow---I replaced the water heater and the inlet/outlet pipes were a third of their original diameter from deposits. Is there a method or products available to clean out the pipes without replacing them? My thought would be to turn off the water and drain the pipes, cap off any pipes from the heater, remove all the connections at the shutoff valves and then pour Limeaway or CLR into the pipes to dissolve the deposits and then flush them out. Any ideas if this is ok to do or any other non-toxic treatments on the market. I'd like to help her solve this problem without re-piping the whole house but I want a safe solution also.
Thanks for any input and help!!

Sorry folks....meant to say it's galvanized pipe, not thinking straight. Just trying to be creative in solving the deposit problem without re-piping a two story section and tearing up the walls. Would some kind of auger device work without breaking any connection---just to minimize the restriction? At the least, I would like to clean out the vertical runs going up and maybe replace the rest in the basement.

Answer 1

That's not the way to go. There's nothing you can do about the pipes now, there to old, shot.

You have to replace. If your handy, you can do this yourself, if not, you'll have to hire a plumber. I did my own but, I'm a contractor.

I put in 3/4 inch pipes, copper, throughout the house with 1/2 inch take offs. This is the only way to go. All your problems will be over with.

Answer 2

If it were possible to charge the entire system of pipes with some calcium, rust desolving solution and then flush it out that would probably be a service some plumbers or repair tech's would offer. Never having seen or heard of such a service in the 30 some odd years I've been repairing all sorts of things around homes in my area, I'd have to conclude that it's not a wise, or feasible thing. It's more likely that a few well placed new pipes could do wonders, but the placement would need to be figured by a plumber.

Answer 3

Bad idea. First off taking apart the joints will sometimes break. Second the build up may be plugging a leak in pipe or thin area. Third you go to all the trouble taking apart why not put together with new.

Answer 4

It is time to replace the pipes...any disturbance to them could weaken the corroded joints and cause major leaks later. Much of the deposits are calcium, but a lot is going to be rust from the pipes themselves.

If you wanted to do the deposit desolving project use plain white vinegar...1000% cheaper works faster, and is completely non toxic.

Answer 5

The pipes are galvanized pipes not cast iron.....Anyway, the pipes are rusting from the inside out. So you are going to have to replace them.....Use copper pipes they last longer.....
Or you can use pex tubing too.............

Sorry......No such thing to clean out the pipes, your just going to have to replace the pipes.....I get the same question at least once every 6 months.........

Answer 6

There is a solution out called EasyWater. I have not used it personally, but I hear it's pretty good. You may can google it to get the website

Answer 7

There is no way to clean out old pipes.Once you loosen the deposits they will always come loose and screw your faucets all up.You will have toilet problems .When you consider how small the supply line is,well it does not take much sediment to impede the flow.

Answer 8

are you sure that its cast iron pipe ?????? cast iron is used for drain lines