$ 597 later

We had a slight indication that our drain was clogged the other morning. The top photo was our sewer drain then. I called a plumber to check it out. What is supposed to be a clean- out has a funky pipe arrangement in it. The "T" was cracked and had silicone caulk holding it together. So trying to wrench off the rusted end cap with the pipe sticking out would probably break it. The toilet upstairs is 80 years old, so taking the toilet off and snaking from there was also out of the question.

So they had to replace this old, cracked cast iron fitting with a new one that has a clean- out. It is the whole "T" shaped cast iron piece with the white, plastic cap on the end in the bottom photo. The plumber confirmed that the silicone was holding the fitting together; that it was cracked like glass. I had noticed this situation when we moved in and I always had this little worry nagging me that one day without warning the pipe would just fall apart.

I watched a television monitor as the plumber ran a camera down the sewer pipe to the main so we could know it's condition. Thankfully the pipe looks very good for it's age. From this cast iron "T" on up all the plumbing in the house is new. and the pipe to the main is good. That is good to know.
Across the river in Little Rock, the sewer pipes have to be inspected in this manner as part of the sale of a home. I think that's a good idea.
Now we have a clean out when we need it and everything is good, but, OUCH! Becky had a $597 nervous breakdown.

This sewer pipe goes out to the main in the alley right through the middle of the back yard under the gate.