How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

When did they stop using cast iron pipe in houses?

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Cast iron was used extensively for DWV (drain-waste-vent) piping until the mid-1970s, when PVC pipe became widely available and accepted by plumbers. Corrosion was the main problem. It is still an available and approved pipe in the building codes, and used for repair of cast iron pipe systems systems, although PVC is used more often for repairs of sections of cast iron that have gone bad. It is recognizable by the extra-wide hub at pipe connections.

    Here’s a decade-by-decade listing of the common types of pipes used:

What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used in older houses?

What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1950s residential plumbing? 

What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1960s residential plumbing?

What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1970s residential plumbing? 

What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1980s residential plumbing?

What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1990s residential plumbing? 

• What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used in the 2000s? 

• What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes are commonly used today?

        Visit our PLUMBING PIPES page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems

Crawl Spaces

Bedrooms

Closets