My son owns a 1950's house in St Louis. A plumber broke a ceramic or porcelain cleanout plug in his basement drain. He replaced it with a 4" plug and a lot of wax. When it started leaking, my son started cleaning off some of the wax and found that the fitting was 4 1/4". He is unable to find anything like it and needs some help. The plumber is no help. Can anybody help?

Thank you
Vance

 

What kind of wax? Silicone caulking should do the job, even if he has to wrap the plug with teflon or even duct tape first.

 

Hi,

Dont use silicone or wax. What is the material of the pipe? Cast iron, PVC, clay???

Once we get that info we can help you.

Mike NJ

 

The drain pipe is cast iron. I was thinking that there are thousands of these houses with the same plumbing so there would surely be plugs for the cleanouts out there somewhere. Hopefully, we wont have to go back with the same jerry-rigging that was on there.

Vance

 

If cast iron you can get a cleanout cap from a home store. If then dont have them then a plumbing supply. You will be looking for a brass threaded cap. These are off sizes as you decribe. They are made for cast iron

Measure the opening and bring a ruler with you.

If you still cant find nothing they make a threaded lead cap. You thread it in best you can. Most times it will not thread at all. But since its lead, you tap it in with a mallet. They work pretty good and are used for this reason. Also when the threads get so messed up.

You most likely will have trouble threading it in. I would recommend getting the lead fit-all.

Brass C/O. First on the list.

PlumbingSupply.com - Clean-Out Plugs

Lead Fit-all.

Lead fit all plugs, lead plugs, threaded lead plugs : Nuclead

Hope this helps.

Mike NJ

 

Thank you, Mike. There is a place here in Springfield--Harry Cooper Supply. If they dont have it, nobody does.

Thanks again.
Vance

 

You can get a rubber plug from most any hardware store to fit any size pipe. you tighten it up with a wing nut. you don't need any sealer.