Best Material to Use for Drainpipes in Residential Homes.

Is PVC not allowed in NYC? So…cast iron. may be your only option.

PVC is allowed in NYC 5 stories and less. The question is, are you doing a full gut renovation of the building or just piecemeal? If you're replacing the soil stacks, Charlotte No Hub Cast Iron with Husky Couplings would be the Gold Standard today…very durable and muffles cascading water in the pipe.

If you're just looking to replace waste lines to bathtub, showers, sinks, money Is not an issue, I would use Brass & Copper DWV pattern fittings and L Thickness Copper. This system would be soft soldered.

This is what we use in NYC for commercial 3 compartment sinks in kitchens, bar sinks, et cetera. DWV copper waste lines would be the Gold Standard here.

My next choice would be Charlotte No Hub with Husky Couplings.

PVC, last choice. In any case, irrespective of which of these materials you use, a really good installation job is the most important factor...with lots of support, long turn fittings and clean outs at all the right places for easy maintenance.

Any really good plumber who takes pride in their work, will make a very good, leak free system with any of these materials.

Mad Dog

Good case study:

The massive Levittown suburban housing development of the post WW II building boom, used DWV copper systems, even for the soil stacks. So, there's a good 75 year and running track record.

Unfortunately, general contractors & such cut out perfectly good DWV piping & fittings when the renovate the kitchens & bathrooms. Mad Dog

Hello and good morning Michael,

I am speaking to you as a home owner; when as the last time you had the P traps cleaned or the main drains to the sanitary sewer cleaned/snaked.

Do you do your own maintenance?

What are the issues you are seeing with the drain pipes under the kitchen, bathroom and tub sinks? Slow drainage speed? leaking joints?

If the problem is drainage speed The P traps under the kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks and tubs are probably clogged and are in dire need of cleaning.

Do you know how to clean a P trap?

When was the last time the 4-6 inch drains to the sanitary sewer in these homes were cleaned??

Do the simple things first before you do a massive tear out for new drain piping.

Properly installed cast iron drain pipes like mine are over 100 years old and still drain properly to either the sanitary sewer or septic tank.

The problem typically is grease buildup in the P traps or the soil pipe to the septic tank or sanitary sewer.

You should clean the P traps under the sinks and tubs and then see if the problem clears itself. If the problem is not fixed with cleaning the P traps you can always invest in a canvas bag Drain Blaster that fits inside the pipe under sinks or tub drain and use the house water pressure from a garden hose to blast the clog free and flush the pipe using only hot water.

You should also inform your tenants that they need to run the hot water only in the tub drains after a shower or bath to assure the P trap is filled with water and the soap will continue to be flushed through the piping as the soap scum will continue to build up over time. Another good inexpensive tool to have is the Drain Weasel which is a long thick plastic grabber that slides into the bathtub drain and into the P trap to pull out hair clogs.

Do the simple things like cleaning the P traps and flushing the sink and tub drains with a drain blaster if they are still slow and have the 4 or 6 inch cast iron pipes cleaned with a pipe snake or water jet pipe cleaner before you spend a massive amount of money on replacing the cast iron pipe.

The cast iron is fine. Lose the galvanized going into it and replace that with copper.

Galvanized drains are the worst IMO.

This subject will always be debatable. Opinions vary greatly.

XXH Cast iron? XH cast iron? Sch. #40 cast iron.

(XH) is an acronym for extra heavy, etc. PVC, ABS. Not to mention DWV copper are choices. Years ago, when I first started out, ABS was the plastic pipe of choice for residential use in my area. Cast iron and DWV copper were mostly used commercially. Now, PVC Sch. #40 is the drainage pipe of choice for residential and commercial work.

So the "best" material to use? At this point, it just might be PVC. It's available and easier to install than others. And many building codes accept it. It's always best to check your local building codes

PVC would be my choice maybe a cast no hub stack if there is an upstairs bath group. The cast deadens the sound of falling water nicely.

Hi, I'm out West, so I like the cast iron stack (to help with keeping it quiet) and ABS for the rest. 🤠

Yours, Larry

I agree with the Mass Code, Ed. PVC takes a beating in commercial buildings, especially in restaurants. Mad Dog

I suspect it merely makes it rhyme.

Rodents love, love, LOVE fiberglass. Rockwool may be better.

I'm not a plumber, I'm an expert on residential and light commercial oil heat and hydronics, So my opinion may not hold as much weight as the others here…. But I would thing the best pipe is the one that doesn't leak! Just sayin'

I can't believe you didn't use the phrase "doesn't hold water" instead of weight.

I buy most of my fittings from Supply house.com.

I've seen foam core pipe for sale but I've avoided buying it.

I see Pace Supply carries solid ABS.

A bummer for suppliers that carry 4 inventories of PVC and ABS pipe. Plus CPVC?

what material split?

"I always buy solid core pvc pipe" - agree quieter too! Only available at pro supply houses around here.

@Intplm. said "They all have their ups and downs."

Unless you put them on a Horizontal. Then the water flows from one side to the other! (depenting on the direction of the pitch)

I thought you all learned that on the first day, Just after when payday is, and to not bite your fingernails.

if pvc touches anything it can be very noisy. lots of popping and clicking noises as it expands and contracts and slips by stuff

it is like any other piping material, you have to give it room to move and support it in such a way that it can move without slipping and sticking