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Prepare the Pipe End — Measure and Prepare PVC Pipe

Beginner6 hours

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How to Connect a PVC Drain to a Cast Iron Pipe · Step 6 of 9

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In this video

Examine the end of the pipe that was inserted into the fitting. The pipe end must be perfectly round, clean, and smooth. If the cut is jagged or angled, use the correct pipe cutter for the material (e.g., a copper tubing cutter for copper, a ratchet-style cutter for PEX) to make a fresh, square cut. Use a deburring tool to remove any sharp edges or burrs from both the inside and outside of the pipe end. If the pipe surface is deeply scratched, painted, or heavily sanded in the area where the O-ring seals, this can cause a leak. Cut the pipe back to a clean, undamaged section.

Goal: Ensure the pipe has a clean, smooth, and square end for the O-ring to seal against.

  • Using a hacksaw can create a rough cut with burrs that will damage the O-ring and cause a leak. Always use a designated pipe cutter.
  • Deburring is a critical step; a small burr on the pipe's edge can easily slice the O-ring during installation.

Used in this video

  • Pipe Cutter (Tool Type: Tubing cutter) — Making a clean, square cut on the pipe
  • Deburring Tool (brand: SharkBite, Deburring_Tool_Type: Manual_deburring_tool) — Smoothing the cut edge of the pipe to prevent damage to the O-ring
  • Sandpaper (Sandpaper_Grit: Fine) · optional — Lightly cleaning the outside of a copper pipe or removing paint
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Roger Wakefield Plumbing Education

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FAQs

What are the most important safety precautions when cutting cast iron pipe?

When cutting cast iron, always wear 3M Professional Chemical Splash/Impact Safety Goggles, MCR Safety BearKat Safety Glasses, and a 3M P100 Household Respirator to protect against dust and debris. Cast iron is heavy, so ensure the pipe is well-supported with 2 in. x 4 in. dimensional lumber before and during cutting to prevent injury or damage.

Do I need a special blade for cutting cast iron with a reciprocating saw?

Yes, a standard reciprocating saw blade will not work effectively on cast iron. You will need a Milwaukee 12 Amp SAWZALL Reciprocating Saw equipped with a DIABLO 9 in. Diamond Grit Reciprocating Saw Blade for Cast Iron Cutting. This specialized blade is designed to cut through the hard material efficiently and safely.

How do I properly support the cast iron pipe to prevent it from falling after I cut it?

Before making your cut, use 2 in. x 4 in. dimensional lumber to create temporary supports on both sides of the cut line. Secure these supports to a stable surface, ensuring they can bear the pipe's weight and prevent any movement, cracking, or collapse during the cutting process.

Why is a shielded flexible coupling recommended for connecting PVC to cast iron, and how do I install it correctly?

A shielded flexible coupling creates a durable, leak-free seal between cast iron and PVC, accommodating slight differences in pipe diameter and vibration. Ensure both pipe ends are clean and deburred before installing the coupling, then tighten the stainless steel bands evenly to the manufacturer's specified torque using a TEKTON 7/16 in. Nut Driver.

Transcript
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short-bite fitting for your pipe. Number 5. You're using the wrong fitting for your pipe's short-bite fittings or does I need to be used with certain types of pipes. Using these nifty fittings with the wrong type of pipe can result in fitting that leaks. Packs, copper, CPC, PRT, and HDP pipes are compatible with short-bite fittings. For example, Packs L-Packs pipes cannot be used with short-bite fittings. How to fix it? To verify that this is the reason for your leak, you'll need to verify the type of pipe you're using. You'll then want to ensure that it is, in fact, compatible with the short-bite fitting. If it is not compatible, you'll need to use an appropriate fitting for your relevant pipes. Number 6. Your pipes are deformed sometimes the leak isn't the result of a faulty short-bite fitting, but rather due to a deformed pipe. Pipes often deal with extreme temperatures and will, over time, become warped. This could simply be due to the age of your pipes. However, the compromised pipe can result in a leaking push fitting. How to fix it? To address this issue, you'll need to replace the section of the damaged pipe. Once you've connected the replacement pipe to the short-bite fitting, your leak will be a problem of the past. Number 7. Your pipes are painted painting your pipes can also result in a bad seal between your short-bite fitting and the pipe. With a dry paint on your pipes presses against the short-bite fittings cufflink, the seal strength can be compromised. In turn, this can result in a leak. How to fix it, if you find that the pipe where the short-bite fitting is leaking is indeed painted, it could be the cause of your leak. To fix this, you'll need to turn off your home's water and disconnect the pipe. With sandpaper or paint stripping product, you can remove the paint near the end of the pipe, where the fitting will be located. Once the paint has been removed, you can reconnect the fitting. Number 8. You've sanded copper pipes sanding copper is an easy way to smooth it out. However, when it comes down to copper pipes with short-bite fittings, you should avoid sanding your pipes. That's because the process of sanding creates an uneven surface. In turn, this compromise is the effectiveness of your push fitting and could result in a leak. How to fix it, if you've sanded your copper pipes, you might need to replace parts of your pipe. Doing this will repair the leaking short-bite fitting. In the future, you should only use very fine sanding…

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