corrosion on copper pipes?
#1
02-25-00, 06:33 AM
hi,
My fiancee and I just purchased our first home. It is a ranch style with an unfinished basement, built in 1962. The previous owners did not take very good care of it and what plumbing modifications were done, appear to be done poorly. One of my major concerns is that most of the cooper pipes have a greenish scale build-up near the solder joints, on some of the screw fittings, and some valves. Why did this happen and what can be done to
fix the problem?
Thanks,
Royce
My fiancee and I just purchased our first home. It is a ranch style with an unfinished basement, built in 1962. The previous owners did not take very good care of it and what plumbing modifications were done, appear to be done poorly. One of my major concerns is that most of the cooper pipes have a greenish scale build-up near the solder joints, on some of the screw fittings, and some valves. Why did this happen and what can be done to
fix the problem?
Thanks,
Royce
#2
02-25-00, 11:13 AM
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The green is caused by water leak corrosion at the joints/valves. If the green isn't wet, then the corrosion has probably sealed the leak. Don't worry about it. If the green is wet, it's still leaking, and should be repaired (re-soldered or put teflon tape/pipe dope on threads). Hope that answered your question. Just a poor initial plumbing job by somebody.
#3
02-26-00, 08:23 AM
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Old guy,I dont know if this is true but I was told by an electrical inspector that this also could be caused by the house ground wire not installed corectly.The house he was inspecting also had a broken pipe under the concrete slab,he pointed out that the ground wire which was atached to the water main was very loose and said that could have caused the pipe to corrode and break.Just thought I would pass this along.Please let me know your thoughts on this.
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Dave
L.I.Handyman
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Dave
L.I.Handyman
#4
02-26-00, 08:49 AM
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Dave:
That's a new one on me. Never heard of that before (green corrosion around pipe connections caused by improperly installed ground wire). I'm not a pro, and the electrical inspector is, so he must know something I don't, which doesn't surprise me. LOL. Mike
That's a new one on me. Never heard of that before (green corrosion around pipe connections caused by improperly installed ground wire). I'm not a pro, and the electrical inspector is, so he must know something I don't, which doesn't surprise me. LOL. Mike
#5
02-26-00, 03:09 PM
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Mike,
I had never heard that befor but like you I figured he must know being a profesional inspector,I guess anything is possible,thanks for responding so fast.
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Dave
L.I.Handyman
I had never heard that befor but like you I figured he must know being a profesional inspector,I guess anything is possible,thanks for responding so fast.
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Dave
L.I.Handyman
#6
02-27-00, 01:23 AM
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Dave:
After I thought about it a bit, there may be something to that. Electricity, water and metals do strange things. Electrolysis is the reason that we have sacrificial zincs on the lower units of boat motors, and maybe this is related to a form of that. Dunno. Just never heard of it with plumbing. Weird. Mike
After I thought about it a bit, there may be something to that. Electricity, water and metals do strange things. Electrolysis is the reason that we have sacrificial zincs on the lower units of boat motors, and maybe this is related to a form of that. Dunno. Just never heard of it with plumbing. Weird. Mike
#7
02-27-00, 09:47 AM
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Mike,
That sounds good to me,the thing that gets me is that the ground wire does not carry electricty until there is a short(so I thought)so this particular house must of had alot of shorts and a bad connection as well.
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Dave
L.I.Handyman
That sounds good to me,the thing that gets me is that the ground wire does not carry electricty until there is a short(so I thought)so this particular house must of had alot of shorts and a bad connection as well.
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Dave
L.I.Handyman
#11
02-28-00, 07:51 PM
DONT KNOW HOW MUCH COPPER YOU DEAL WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT
FLUX IS VERY ACIDIC AND WILL TURN COPPER GREEN IN 30 MINUTES,HALF THE HOUSES IN ATLANTA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM,IT WIPES OFF.
THE ELECTROLISIS EFFECT USUALLY RESULTS IN A BROWN RUST BUILD-UP..
[This message has been edited by GARPLUMCO (edited February 28, 2000).]
FLUX IS VERY ACIDIC AND WILL TURN COPPER GREEN IN 30 MINUTES,HALF THE HOUSES IN ATLANTA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM,IT WIPES OFF.
THE ELECTROLISIS EFFECT USUALLY RESULTS IN A BROWN RUST BUILD-UP..
[This message has been edited by GARPLUMCO (edited February 28, 2000).]
#12
02-28-00, 08:53 PM
I would have to agree with the flux answer and the electrolisis answer.If you do not wipe the joints after your done it will react with the copper.The ground wire will carry current if it is connected with the neutral in the panel box,sometimes quite a bit.If the house does not have a ground rod you will get electrolisis.But it usualy starts inside the pipe.
