Full Cast Iron Trunk Line Replacement & Bathroom Restoration

How Bison Plumbing tackled a grueling crawlspace pipe overhaul — and earned a loyal, repeat customer for life in Warren, MI.

Client

Kristine Holmes

Location

Warren, MI

Services

Pipe Replacement · Drain Snaking · Toilet

Outcome

5-Star Review · Repeat Customer

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Property Type

Residential Home with Crawlspace

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Primary Work

Cast Iron → PVC Conversion

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Secondary Work

Toilet Replacement + Drain Snaking

Rating

5 Stars on Google

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Bonus Perk

Military Discount Available

The Challenge

Aging Cast Iron Pipes Deep Inside a Tight Crawlspace

Kristine Holmes, a homeowner in Warren, MI, was dealing with a scenario that most contractors dread: a fully deteriorated cast iron trunk line and both stacks buried beneath her home in an extremely confined crawlspace. Aging cast iron is a recipe for cracked joints, root intrusion, and sewage backups — and left unaddressed, it creates serious long-term structural damage and health risks.

To make matters more demanding, the workspace was barely navigable, requiring technicians with the skill, physical endurance, and professional commitment to see the job through without cutting corners.

⚠️ Degraded Pipe Infrastructure

The original cast iron trunk line and both stacks had reached end of service life, creating high risk of sewer backups and drain failures throughout the home.

⚠️ Extremely Confined Crawlspace

The crawlspace offered minimal clearance to maneuver tools, pipe sections, and debris — making every step of the job more physically demanding and technically complex.

⚠️ Full Debris Removal Required

Once the old cast iron was cut out, every piece of pipe, fitting, and debris had to be carefully extracted from the crawlspace and hauled completely off the property — with zero mess left behind for the homeowner to deal with.

The Solution

A Complete PVC Conversion — Done Right, Down to the Last Fitting

Bison Plumbing dispatched Rick and his helper to handle the full project scope. Their approach was methodical, professional, and thorough — the kind of execution that turns first-time customers into lifelong clients.

1. Full Cast Iron Trunk Line Removal

Rick and his helper navigated the confined workspace and safely removed the entire cast iron trunk line from the ground up to the footing of the home — a physically demanding job that required patience, technique, and a genuine commitment to quality workmanship.

2. Complete Replacement of Both Stacks with PVC

Both deteriorating cast iron stacks were fully replaced with modern, corrosion-resistant PVC pipe and fittings — bringing the home's entire below-floor drain system up to current standards. This is the kind of thorough work covered under Bison's residential plumbing repairs service.

3. Complete Material Haul-Away

Every section of old cast iron pipe and fittings was extracted from the crawlspace and removed entirely from the property. No staging area left behind, no follow-up burden for the homeowner — a clean job site is a non-negotiable Bison standard.

4. Thorough Post-Job Cleanup

The crew cleaned all debris from the crawlspace and surrounding work areas before leaving — the same standard they uphold on every single job, no matter how demanding the conditions. See why customers consistently praise this in our customer testimonials.

5. Return Visit — Toilet Replacement & Drain Snaking

Weeks later, Kristine trusted Bison enough to call them back for a completely separate job. Technician Damani replaced the toilet and performed bathroom drain snaking — leaving everything cleaner than he found it. For homeowners wanting to get ahead of recurring buildup, Bison also offers professional hydrojetting services to flush drain lines completely clear. Flexible financing options are available to make any project budget-friendly.

Project Documentation

Job Site Photos From Kristine's Project

Real photos captured during and after the crawlspace pipe replacement — showing the scope of work and the quality of the completed installation.

The Results

A Modernized System, a Spotless Worksite, and a Customer for Life

From the first call to the second visit, every part of Kristine's experience with Bison Plumbing set the standard for what residential plumbing service in Metro Detroit should look like.

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100% Cast Iron Removed

The entire aging system — trunk line and both stacks — replaced with durable PVC all the way up to the home's footing.

Spotless Worksite Cleanup

All debris hauled completely off the property. Zero mess left behind — upheld on both the crawlspace job and the return visit.

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Earned Repeat Business

Kristine called Bison back for a second, separate project — the highest endorsement a customer can give any contractor.

5-Star Google Review

A detailed, glowing public review on Google — boosting Bison's trusted reputation across Warren and Metro Detroit.

In Her Own Words

What Kristine Had to Say

2 weeks ago, Bison Plumbing did a fantastic job replacing our cast iron trunk line and both stacks up to the footing of the home within our very tiny crawlspace. They replaced all our piping with PVC pipes and fittings and hauled everything away. They also did an excellent job cleaning up the debris. Shout out to Rick and helper. They worked their butts off to give me the results I needed. They were very professional throughout, and I would walk them back anytime. Bonus for offering a military discount as well.

Today, I had BISON PLUMBING come back to replace my toilet, and to snake out the drain line in the bathroom. Damani did a fantastic job and after he was done, he cleaned up and made everything look better than before. Damani was very professional and I am happy to have him back to work on our house in the future. Kudos to Bison Plumbing for hiring such experienced and professional staff. The only thing I forgot was to ask for my military discount.

Kristine Holmes

Verified Google Review · Warren, MI

Explore Our Services

More Ways Bison Plumbing Can Help

From sewer camera inspections to full trenchless repairs, our licensed technicians handle every plumbing challenge across Metro Detroit — with the same level of care and professionalism Kristine experienced.

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Sewers & Drains

From hair clogs to heavy tree root blockages — we clear any drain, any size, any depth.

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No-Dig Sewer Repairs

Pipe lining, patching, and full sewer rehabilitation — without tearing up your yard.

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Trenchless Sewer Repair

Fix damaged sewer lines using cutting-edge methods — no traditional excavation required.

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Hydrojetting

High-pressure water blasting that scours drain lines completely clear of grease and buildup.

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Plumbing Repairs

Toilets, faucets, fixtures, and more — repaired to manufacturer standards by licensed techs.

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Financing Available

12-month 0% financing through GreenSky — approved in minutes, $0 down on repairs.

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