Is this mess really how it's done??

[dls]

Homeowner currently undergoing gut renovation on bathroom. The tub is being converted to a walk in shower which necessitates going from current 1 1/2 drain to a 2 inch. Permit has been pulled. Old drain was 1 1/2 inch copper. Plumber has replaced with 2 inch PVC. Please see attached pic of the connection at the cast iron stack. I would have assumed he would use a Fernco to make the connection. Instead it looks like he kept the stub of the copper in place and crudely slid a burned/ melted section of PVC over it (to disguise it?). I will address this with the plumber tomorrow. Just wanted a pros opinion first.

 

[Kreemoweet]

Are you sure it's not a "caulked joint"? Seems to be code-acceptable, and they make PVC fittings for exactly
that purpose.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[dls]

Are you sure it's not a "caulked joint"? Seems to be code-acceptable, and they make PVC fittings for exactly
that purpose.

What is making the connection? The PVC is literally melted away from the hub?

 

[Jadnashua]

Not sure how robust a leaded joint to pvc pipe would end up being...my guess, not very. The normal way to make that connection is to use a properly sized rubber donut in the cleaned out hub. Since CI forms for a hub connection are not exactly standard across the industry, they make numerous versions in fractionally different OD's to fit into a hub and seal properly.

MA has some weird things that plumbing inspectors approve. FOr example, the plumbing code requires a pan liner to be sloped to the drain (the tile is not the waterproofing, the liner is), but many places in MA try to sell you a copper pan, flat on the floor as an upgrade! And, the inspectors pass it! A big disconnect with reality. The job of the pan liner is more than just protecting the structure from water damage...it should drain the shower so that it doesn't accumulate moisture inside of it (it eventually starts to smell like a swamp!). This is the reason why the liner must be sloped, so that what little moisture that gets under the tile can drain, not accumulate. Little by little, it accumulates since it doesn't drain until it gets some depth (and then, only if they didn't clog the weepholes!).

 

[Reach4]

What is making the connection? The PVC is literally melted away from the hub?

If there is a gap, the plumber will use a caulking iron to close the gap.

 

[Plumber69]

If there's easy access to the joint. It would be pretty easy to do it right

 

[Cacher_Chick]

In Chicagoland it is pretty common see above-grade PVC leaded into cast iron where it goes below-grade. I am unsure what if any special technique is used.