green inside copper pipes

Patina is, in fact, the oxidized layer on copper that turned to green or bluish-green. The color is caused by copper oxide, a product of copper mixing with oxygen. While patina on itself isn’t harmful, if left untreated it will cause the corrosion of the pipe and burst pipe. The green color you see is, actually, the rusting of the copper.

Considering this, what is the green stuff on copper pipes? 1 Answer. The green stuff is cupric chloride, a byproduct of corrosion of the valve body or possible copper leachate in the water. Either way, it's typical of water leakage where the water is of low pH. The white stuff (sometimes feels fibrous like cotton candy) is just efflorescence.

get the water tested for it's PH level, Water with a high acidic level will eat the copper pipe from the inside out. Before you can realize it you will have pin hole leaks . That green is the copper being eaten away. I would bet you need an acid neutralizer and directly after that, a water softner. Take a water sample and get it tested.

Patina, or the greenish colour that appears on copper pipes, happens from oxidation. Oxidation is common on copper when it is exposed to water and air over time. While this oxidized layer is not harmful, it does cause the copper to become corroded. This green colour is known as copper oxide and is basically a rusting of the metal.

The green color on copper is called “patina”. The “patina” itself is not the problem, but on copper water pipe it indicates that somewhere at sometime, your plumbing system has had a leak in that area. Areas of Green on Water Pipes Are Evidence of 2 Facts: Your plumbing system uses copper water pipe, and

the patina or coating on the inside of copper pipe is what protects it from corrosion. if the coating breaks down or there are heavy deposits and the water is aggressive then it may corrode under the deposits. So the green coating is good !

The most common copper color changes are blue, green and black. Blue or Bluish-Green – Blue or bluish green coloring can indicate corrosion. If the water appears blue or bluish-green when it comes out of the taps, the corrosion is likely inside the water pipe. If you notice the exterior of the pipe turning colors, you have a pinhole leak.

Specifically, calcium will cause pitting and eventual pinhole leaks in copper. You see green and/or white deposits on the inside as well as the outside of the copper. Not saying this is definitely the cause of the problem you ran into though. As was stated by others, it could be flux, defective pipe, etc.

Flushing Out the Inside of Copper Pipes. | Posted in General Discussion on April 25, 2005 06:46am. Our copper piping system in our house is 32 years old. We believe we could increase our water pressure which seems to have decreased if we could flush out the inside of the pipes and clear out any calcium or other build-up, etc.

When Your Copper Pipes Turn Green. Although copper is one of the best materials for your home plumbing system, it can sometimes turn green. This usually happens because of copper’s interaction with oxygen and other airborne material over time. The term used for this green colour on your copper pipes is patina.

If I were you I would replace the green sections with copper, but when using rigid copper tubing be sure to avoid the thinnest wall (Type M) and use the thicker wall Type L (maybe use thick wall type K if that is used for water pipes). Soft copper tubing may all be thick wall or there may be different wall thicknesses available.

Green or blue water staining are names given to a general corrosive attack that on rare occasions occurs in buildings that have been plumbed in copper. In most instances this phenomenon manifests itself shortly after a new plumbing system is put into continuous service and then eventually goes away.

There were no visible dents or scratches, just a green spot with a hole in the middle. About 6 inches down the pipe was another green spot that was just starting to seep water. Most of the piping has green splotches on the outside surface, and the inside of the pipe had lots of blue-green deposits.

The green color is copper oxide, which is a form of corrosion on the copper pipe, but unlike iron oxide (rust), it will not eat through the pipe and cause a leak. The green spots are likely caused by moisture in the air of your basement condensing on the surface of the pipe.

Despite the dismay that many people feel when they see that their beautiful copper pipes or copper cookware have turned green or black, there is a comfort to be found. You can remove oxidation from copper, and it is a fairly simple process if you have the right tools.

Green staining on pipes is more common on homes built before the 1990s when copper plumbing was common. A few different reasons account for why the pipes under your sink may be turning green, especially if they are copper, but the only long-term solution for each scenario may be pipe replacement.

Green spots on the outside of a copper pipe or fittings usually means the plumber did not wipe off any left over flux on the out side of the copper pipe or fittings, or the copper pipe has started to corrode from the inside out from using too much flux inside the pipe and the flux has made its way to the outside of the copper pipe or fittings ...

Flushing Out the Inside of Copper Pipes. | Posted in General Discussion on April 25, 2005 06:46am. Our copper piping system in our house is 32 years old. We believe we could increase our water pressure which seems to have decreased if we could flush out the inside of the pipes and clear out any calcium or other build-up, etc.