Old cast iron in Cooper City, replaced right the first time.
Homes built before the mid-1970s in Davie, Cooper City and the surrounding towns still run drain lines that were poured decades ago. Once that iron thins out, backups keep coming back no matter how many times a line gets cabled. We scope it on video, pull the proper permit, and put in new pipe built to last.
When the old drain line starts failing
Cast iron was standard practice across Broward County into the 1970s, and it was never meant to last forever. Salt air, groundwater and years of daily use eat the pipe from the inside, thinning the walls until they crack, sag or open up entirely below the slab. These are the clues we hear about most from homeowners in Davie, Cooper City and Pembroke Pines.
The same drain keeps backing up
If a plumber has snaked the same line more than once this year, the pipe itself has probably lost its shape. Rust and scale build ridges on the inside that catch debris no matter how clean the cable comes out.
A sewage smell that won't go away
A rotten-egg smell near a floor drain, laundry room or bathroom usually means gas is escaping through a crack instead of venting properly through the roof stack.
A soggy or extra-green patch of grass
A stretch of lawn that stays wet or grows noticeably faster than the rest is often sitting right above a broken lateral leaking into the soil below.
Roaches or rodents showing up indoors
Sewer lines are a highway for pests. When roaches or rats start appearing near drains with no clear entry point, a gap in the cast iron may be their access route.
Tile cracks or a sinking feeling in the slab
When a buried pipe collapses, the sand bed underneath the slab can wash away. New cracks in tile or a floor that feels slightly uneven can point to a void forming below.
Fixtures that drain slower than they used to
Tubs taking forever to empty and gurgling toilets when a fixture runs elsewhere are signs the pipe has narrowed from decades of buildup on the inside walls.
What happens once we're on site
Video line inspection
A push camera travels the full run to locate every crack, sag and separated joint, marking depth and distance so we know exactly what we're dealing with before any tool touches the floor.
Written scope of work
You get a clear, fixed quote listing which sections need replacing, whether any portion is a candidate for lining, and the access plan we'll use to reach it.
Permit pulled before we dig
We file for the local plumbing permit before any concrete is opened. The work is built to Florida code so it passes inspection and stays on record with the property.
Opening access
Whether that means saw-cutting a section of slab or digging an exterior trench, we open only what's necessary and protect the surrounding floors and landscaping.
Setting new pipe
Schedule 40 PVC goes in at the correct slope, ties into the existing system with the right fittings, and gets pressure tested before anything is closed back up.
Restore and sign off
Concrete gets re-poured, sod or soil goes back, the inspector signs off, and you walk away with a closed permit and your written warranty in hand.
Full replacement or a reline? We show you the footage first
Some pipes just need a repair from the inside. If the cast iron still holds its round shape and the slope is intact, a liner can seal it up with minimal disruption to your yard or flooring.
But once the bottom of the pipe has rotted through or joints have separated, there's nothing solid left for a liner to grip, and replacement becomes the only real option. We run the camera through your line first and hand you the video, so the recommendation is based on what's actually in your pipe.
Book a video inspection(754) 304-0006
No two pipe jobs cost the same
There's no flat price for this kind of work because every house sits differently. Layout, depth and how much concrete stands in the way all change the total. We break down the honest factors below and walk through each one with you after the inspection.
Footage & fixture count
How much pipe has to come out and how many bathrooms or laundry lines tie into it.
Slab cut vs. open trench
Cutting and re-pouring interior concrete costs more than a straight exterior dig.
Depth & groundwater
Deeper lines and a high water table add shoring and pumping to the labor.
Partial vs. full replacement
Sections still sound enough to line can shrink the dig and the bill.
Local permit fees
Set by your city or county and passed through at cost with no added margin.
Finish restoration
Tile, flooring and landscaping put back once the pipe itself is done.
Broward homes we service
West Broward
Central Broward
Coastal Broward
Other work we take on
Trenchless sewer repair
New pipe formed inside the old one, without a trench across the yard.
See trenchless repair →Sewer line repair
Spot repairs and full re-lays on the run between the house and the street.
See sewer line repair →Whole-home repiping
For the supply side of an older house, when the drains are not the only tired pipe.
See repiping →Hydro jetting
Pressure clearing years of scale and grease out of a main line.
See hydro jetting →Emergency plumbing
Burst lines, backups and no-water calls, day or night, at the same rate.
See emergency service →What Broward homeowners say
Our house was built in the early '70s and the master bath kept clogging every few weeks. They ran a camera through it, showed me exactly where it had collapsed, and replaced that section with a permit. No issues since.
Homeowner · Broward
They found a soft, dark patch in the yard I'd noticed for months. Turned out the lateral had a crack right underneath it. Trenched, replaced, and re-sodded it so cleanly you'd never know they'd been out there.
Homeowner · Broward
The video walkthrough of my pipes convinced my insurance to cover part of the repair. Everything was documented and permitted properly, which made the whole claim process a lot smoother than I expected.
Homeowner · Broward
We stayed home during the whole job. They kept one bathroom open at all times and restored water every evening. Crew showed up on schedule and left the site clean each day, closed permit at the end.
Homeowner · Broward
Cast iron replacement questions
Why isn't there a set price for this work?
Two homes with the exact same square footage can have completely different pipe layouts and access points. A short exterior trench in loose soil is much less work than saw-cutting through a finished slab. Once we've run the camera through your line, we hand you a fixed, written quote based on the actual footage, depth and access your home requires, not a rough estimate over the phone.
Will my homeowners insurance help pay for this?
That depends entirely on your specific policy and how the failure happened. Some carriers help cover water damage or access costs even if the worn pipe itself isn't covered, and a sudden collapse may be handled differently than gradual wear. We record the full video inspection and provide a detailed written report, which is usually what an adjuster needs to review a claim, though final coverage decisions rest with your insurer.
How long will the project take from start to finish?
A single-run repair to one bathroom often finishes in a day or two. A full under-slab replacement covering a whole house typically takes several days up to about a week, depending on square footage and how much concrete needs cutting and pouring back. Permit approval and scheduling the final inspection can add a bit of time on either end, and we'll walk you through a realistic timeline before work starts.
Do we need to move out while the work is done?
Most homeowners stay put. We plan the phasing so at least one bathroom keeps working through the project and turn water back on each evening. Days with heavy slab cutting can be loud and dusty for a stretch, so you may want to avoid that part of the house for a few hours. We seal off work areas, cover flooring, and clean up before we leave each day.
What's covered under the warranty?
Every cast iron replacement we complete comes with a written warranty covering both the parts and the labor, given to you when the job closes out. We install Schedule 40 PVC set to proper slope and pressure test it before backfilling, so it's built to hold up for decades. You'll also keep the closed permit for your records, which matters if you ever sell the home. We work under CFC1433655, and we carry full insurance.
Don't let old cast iron decide for you
If your home in Davie, Cooper City or a nearby Broward town was built before the mid-1970s and the drains keep giving you trouble, a video inspection will tell you exactly where things stand. From there, a properly permitted replacement puts the problem behind you for good.
Call now · 24/7(754) 304-0006Licensed & insured · FL CFC1433655 · Cooper City Emergency Plumbing SFL, 4491 S State Road 7, Davie, FL 33314 · Permit pulled before we dig and closed when we finish.