Is Your Home 40+ Years Old? Have Your Cast Iron Drain Lines Checked
Thousands of Valley homes built in the 1980s and earlier still drain through their original cast iron pipes. In Arizona’s soil and heat, cast iron corrodes from the inside out — scale builds up, channels rot through the bottom of the pipe, and roots find their way in. By the time you notice slow drains or backups, the damage is usually well underway.
If your home is 40 years or older anywhere in the Valley, you need to have your cast iron checked.
Best Case: Catch It Early and Add an Epoxy Liner
When cast iron deterioration is found early, we can often restore the line from the inside with an epoxy liner — no digging, no demolition, no replacing the entire run. The liner seals corrosion and small channels and gives the line a new, smooth interior surface. It’s faster, cleaner, and far less expensive than excavation.
Worst Case: Full Dig, Removal & Replacement
If a cast iron line is left to fail, the bottom of the pipe rots out or collapses. At that point the only fix is a full dig — excavating through slab, hardscape, or yard, removing the failed pipe, and replacing the run. It’s the most disruptive and costly outcome, and it’s almost always avoidable when problems are caught early.
Warning Signs of Failing Cast Iron
- Slow drains throughout the home (not just one fixture)
- Recurring backups or gurgling drains
- Sewer odors inside or around the home
- Wet spots, lush patches of grass, or settling near drain lines
- A home built before the mid-1980s that’s never had its lines inspected
FREE Camera Line Inspection for Qualifying Cast Iron Homes
The only way to know the condition of your cast iron is to look inside it. We run a sewer camera through your drain lines and show you exactly what’s there — solid pipe, early corrosion, or a line that needs attention.
Free camera line inspections are available for qualifying cast iron homes. Restrictions apply. Call today and get your FREE inspection: (480) 969-3193
Frequently Asked Questions – Cast Iron Pipes
How do I know if my home has cast iron drain lines? Most Valley homes built before the mid-1980s used cast iron for drain and sewer lines. If your home is 40+ years old and the lines have never been replaced, assume cast iron until a camera inspection confirms otherwise.
How long does cast iron pipe last? Typically 40–60 years — less in harsh soil conditions. Most original cast iron in the Valley is at or past the end of its expected life.
Is epoxy lining as good as replacement? For lines caught before structural failure, an epoxy liner restores the pipe interior and avoids excavation entirely. Our team will show you the camera footage and explain honestly whether lining or replacement is the right call for your home.
What areas do you serve? Mesa and the entire Phoenix East Valley, including Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills, and Scottsdale.
What does the free inspection include? A camera run of accessible drain lines in qualifying cast iron homes, with footage reviewed with you on the spot. Restrictions apply — call (480) 969-3193 for details.