What Is The Difference Between Cast Iron And Black Pipes?

In properties, your piping is one of the most essential parts of your plumbing. You have water, sewer lines, and gas pipes that all contribute to the safe and efficient travel of water and gas throughout your commercial or residential property.

Your pipes might be hiding underground or behind the walls, making them out of sight, out of mind. But knowing what’s running through your home can come in handy for future repairs, replacements, or tackling corrosion. This blog covers it all, including handling leaking or burst pipes.

Cast Iron Pipe

Cast iron pipes have been used for many years and are durable for gas lines and water. They are pure iron, and although their life expectancy is between 80 and 100 years, they can fail due to corrosion and cracks. They were used for centuries because they were a relatively cheap product for water lines and gas pipes.

Cast Iron pipes are quiet due to their thick density, are fire-resistant, and do not emit harmful and potentially deadly gases.

Black Iron Pipe

Black iron pipes, or ABS sewer pipes, are crafted from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. You often find them used in drains, waste systems, and vent pipes. In terms of size and what they do, they’re pretty similar to PVC pipes.

It is highly durable and known for its corrosion resistance. Black pipes are light and easily malleable.

Thanks to their low density, black steel pipes are lightweight, making them a breeze to cut and assemble. Yet, when water rushes through at high speed and pressure, they can get rather noisy. For more tips on tackling noisy water pipes, check out our guide.

Main Differences Between Cast Iron and Black Pipes

Installation

Installing cast iron and black pipes isn’t quite the same. Cast iron pipes, in the past, were sealed with melted lead and oakum. Today, stainless steel bands and rubber gaskets do the trick. Meanwhile, black pipes are put together with ABS cement and couplings.

Size

Black pipes are 8 feet long and range from 1 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter, depending on the fixtures connected to them.

Cast iron pipes are pieces that can be clipped together. They are 2 inches and up in diameter and 4-6 inches for residential drains.

Repairs

Repairingthese pipes if they leak is significantly different. Because Black steel pipes are separated into pieces, the risk of leaks and water escaping from the joints is greater.

Cast iron pipes are welded at the join, reducing the chances of leaks, although they aren’t immune to corrosion over time. If ABS or steel pipes fail, swapping out the damaged section is usually the best bet, though repairs can also do the job.

Overall Use

Cast iron and black pipes are routinely used for water and gas lines in residential properties. Black pipes are durable and mainly used for gas lines, and cast iron is preferred for major water channels.

The cost of installation depends on the materials and installation method. Cast iron is usually more costly due to its size and installation process.

The initial setup is pricey but will save you money, energy and resources in the long run.

Household plumbing systems are complicated. But there are qualified and skilled people who understand how they work.

Here at Fixed Today, we’re skilled in all plumbing-related concerns you may have.

Fixed Today speaks the plumbing language. We’re all about pipes and fittings, drainage, and fixtures.

We understand how the plumbing system ticks, whether at home or in business. We can pinpoint the best and safest plumbing devices, amenities, and appliances for our clients.

With our help with proper maintenance and installation, you can enjoy years of a stress-free plumbing system and minimise plumbing emergencies. So, if you need help with your pipelines, please get in touch with us.