Home Inspection Flagged Rotting Cast-Iron Drains in Cary
Cary · April 2026 · Nick · From our service records
What the customer reported
A Cary homeowner had concerns about the cast-iron drain system both inside and outside the home after an inspection report noted the pipes seemed to be rotting and might need major repair.
What we found and did
Nick found that the cast-iron sewer line, over 50 years old, had exceeded its expected lifespan: approximately 94 feet of 4-inch cast-iron piping in the crawlspace showed significant exterior corrosion and active leakage in multiple areas, and the connection at the city drop service sanitary tee was heavily corroded. He noted that the exterior deterioration likely means rust buildup and scaling inside the pipe, effectively reducing its internal diameter from 4 inches to approximately 2 inches and increasing the risk of sewage backup into the home. Nick provided estimates to replace all cast-iron piping in the crawlspace, reconnect to the existing ABS piping, and replace approximately 75 feet of the main sewer line from the foundation to the city drop service with new 4-inch PVC piping in accordance with current North Carolina code. He also noted that the pipe depth increases from approximately 2 feet to 4 feet between the front of the foundation and the city connection.
