Homes built prior to the mid 70’s often used cast iron for drainage/sewage plumbing. While this material is strong and long-lasting, it tends to degrade because of the corrosive nature of sewage.
Most of this material has reached its end of life and will begin to leak. The photo above was one I took recently during a home inspection in a crawlspace of a 1965 home not far from Huntsville, AL. Yep, that’s sewage leaking out of that pipe.
I recommend having a plumber evaluate any cast iron plumbing, with an eye towards replacement. It’s a good idea to take a look inside the pipes with a sewer camera, especially the section of sewage plumbing leading
to the street or septic tank as it can be damaged by tree roots and other hazards.
A thorough home inspection can help identify potential problem areas such as cast iron plumbing.
Contact me today for a comprehensive inspection.