Copper House Water Pipes Bluish-Green "Stuff" On ? (and pinhole leaks)
#1
02-25-11, 10:34 AM
Copper House Water Pipes Bluish-Green "Stuff" On ? (and pinhole leaks)
Hello,
Have had a pinhole leak this year, and also a few years back, so started looking at my Copper house water plumbing a bit.
Noticed several areas with that bluish-green coating on it.
a. Is this indicative of a pinhole leak developing ?
b. what actually is this bluish-green "stuff" ?
c. Is it a reaction of the Copper with the outside air, and thus developing on the pipe's outside, or it coming from the inside ?
d. Interesting in that I see it in the middle of a run, here and there, so it's unlikely that it is caused by any soldering flux residual.
I do also see it at joints, and am wondering if it is caused, here, by a soldering flux residual ?
Any thoughts on the bluish-green stuff, and pinhole leaks would be most appreciated.
BTW: how common are pinhole leaks in older (around 35 yr old) homes ?
Thanks,
Bob
Have had a pinhole leak this year, and also a few years back, so started looking at my Copper house water plumbing a bit.
Noticed several areas with that bluish-green coating on it.
a. Is this indicative of a pinhole leak developing ?
b. what actually is this bluish-green "stuff" ?
c. Is it a reaction of the Copper with the outside air, and thus developing on the pipe's outside, or it coming from the inside ?
d. Interesting in that I see it in the middle of a run, here and there, so it's unlikely that it is caused by any soldering flux residual.
I do also see it at joints, and am wondering if it is caused, here, by a soldering flux residual ?
Any thoughts on the bluish-green stuff, and pinhole leaks would be most appreciated.
BTW: how common are pinhole leaks in older (around 35 yr old) homes ?
Thanks,
Bob
#2
02-25-11, 01:41 PM
Super Moderator
Are you on a well?
The green is from the flux not being wiped. It does not affect the pipe and will do no harm. Your leaks are either a bad solder joint and or you water is acidic.
Plus if the used M copper its thinner. We only use L copper but plumbers use M because it cheaper. They do the homeowner an injustice.
What you should look into is a complete pex repipe. We do a one bath home with basement for about $2800.
Mike NJ
The green is from the flux not being wiped. It does not affect the pipe and will do no harm. Your leaks are either a bad solder joint and or you water is acidic.
Plus if the used M copper its thinner. We only use L copper but plumbers use M because it cheaper. They do the homeowner an injustice.
What you should look into is a complete pex repipe. We do a one bath home with basement for about $2800.
Mike NJ
#3
02-25-11, 03:55 PM
Mike is correct the green around the joints is unwiped flux and of no consequence. The blueish white fuzz that appears in the middle of a run that precedes a pinhole leak is anothe story. I just replaced a section of copper in a 40 year old apt. bldg. with the same affliction. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for who gets it and who doesnt. I have a personal theory though. I have sanded and prepped and attempted to solder pinholes. The solder did not even stick to the pipe around the hole. Stuck to the area around the hole. On closer examination the area around the hole is rough and pock marked. Makes me wonder if some impurities in the alloy oxidizes and breaks down, resulting in a leak.
#4
02-25-11, 04:07 PM
Mike's first question was the key, however. I find in our area it is the sand content of the well water that is slowly eating up the ID of the pipe. Eventually it will form pinhole leaks. If you take the pipe at the pinhole you can crush it inward because the wall has thinned out so much. I agree with a pex repiping.
#6
02-26-11, 04:22 AM
From OP: Follow-Ups, please
Hello,
Thank you all for replies and good information.
Appreciate it.
Just a follow-up, please:
a. Do these pin-hole leaks develop on the surface first, and then inward (usually), or, due to impurities in the water, usually from the inside first and then getting to the outside ?
b. Hard to quantify, of course, but how "common" are these type of problems ?
Town water; Not from a well.
Thanks,
Bob
Thank you all for replies and good information.
Appreciate it.
Just a follow-up, please:
a. Do these pin-hole leaks develop on the surface first, and then inward (usually), or, due to impurities in the water, usually from the inside first and then getting to the outside ?
b. Hard to quantify, of course, but how "common" are these type of problems ?
Town water; Not from a well.
Thanks,
Bob
#7
02-26-11, 05:21 AM
The pinholes will emanate from the inside, due to the casing wall diminishing in size. Regardless of whether you are on city water or well, Mike's suggestion of a 5 micron filter is a good one. When I install whole house filters, I talk the client (if they have problem water) to put two in tandem. One at 5 microns, and the other a carbon at 2 microns. That way they get the sediment out of the way before they clear up the taste and clog a good $10 filter with sediment.
