Older Decatur Homes: Galvanized, Cast Iron and Clay

How Decatur grew

Founded in 1829, Decatur became a rail and industrial city, and corn refining and soybean processing made it one of the Midwest's agribusiness centers (Wikipedia: Decatur, Illinois). Neighborhoods near downtown, Millikin University and the older east and west ends hold many homes from the late 1800s through the 1950s, typically with full basements.

Galvanized supply pipe

Galvanized steel was standard for water lines in many homes built before the 1960s. It rusts from inside, narrowing the pipe. Signs: low pressure, especially upstairs; rusty water after it sits; leaks at threaded joints. The EPA notes galvanized pipe can collect lead if it was downstream of lead components (U.S. EPA, basic information about lead in drinking water).

Cast-iron drains and stacks

Cast iron drains and vertical stacks last decades but corrode inside and crack along the bottom. In basements you can often see them. Signs: rust stains, weeping joints, slow drains, odors.

Clay tile sewers

Clay sewer lines run from the basement to the street. Roots from mature trees enter the joints. Signs: repeated main-line clogs and floor-drain backups.

Old basement plumbing

• Floor drains tied to the sewer, sometimes with no backwater protection.
• Laundry tubs and old standpipes.
• Water heaters venting into old masonry chimneys.
• Abandoned lines and old cisterns in some very old homes.

Planning replacement

Basement homes make repiping simpler than slab homes, since lines run along exposed joists. A typical plan replaces galvanized supply with PEX or copper, replaces failing sections of cast iron, and inspects the sewer with a camera. Permits go through the City of Decatur (City of Decatur, Illinois (water, sewer and permits)) or your village; work follows the Illinois plumbing code (Illinois Department of Public Health, Plumbing Program).

Buying an older home

Ask about the supply pipe material, the service line material, the water heater age and venting, and whether the sewer has been camera-inspected.

Related pages: leak detection & repair, sewer & main line repair, drain cleaning, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: Wikipedia: Decatur, Illinois; U.S. EPA, basic information about lead in drinking water; City of Decatur, Illinois (water, sewer and permits); Illinois Department of Public Health, Plumbing Program.