Green Oxide on copper pipes in Hot Press

stockshares

Hi,

earlier this year just after xmas we had a small valve leek in the hot press. There were small droplets coming from a valve and we got the valve replaced and hadn't noticed any problems until now.

After removing clothes from the hot press I noticed that they had blue + green colouring on them.

I then looked at the copper pipes and they have a large amount of green oxide on them.

I had thought that copper going green and forming a patina was normal but this amount of green oxide seems abnormal.

I have attached pics of the pipes and the clothes with oxide colouring on them.

I think the pipes might be degrading.

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Is there a risk of these pipes failing or contaminating the water supply? Should these pipes be removed?

Thank you

muffler

It doesn't look too bad so I wouldn't worry for now. It can be caused by either a leak or prolonged exposure to humid moist air or both. But you do need to remove it and keep an eye on it. You can use acetone or a mix of vinegar and salt, wash down and dry. A good DIY shop would have solutions for it.

muffler

It doesn't look too bad so I wouldn't worry for now. It can be caused by either a leak or prolonged exposure to humid moist air or both. But you do need to remove it and keep an eye on it. You can use acetone or a mix of vinegar and salt, wash down and dry. A good DIY shop would have solutions for it.

The Continental Op

If you are really worried and I don't think there is any need, then clean up the pipes with some Brasso and monitor how any fresh verdigris develops. If the pipes that have a lot of verdigris on them are cold then its a good chance the problem is caused be condensation. Around the joints it could be that they are weeping but condensation can again be the issue. If it slowly comes back with no sign of leaking water then you can insulate the pipes which will help reduce the condensation on them and act as a barrier with your cloths.

stockshares

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121121559#Comment_121121559

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121121588#Comment_121121588

Thanks lads,

Is the residue itself harmful?

If pipes were to degrade in future could the oxide impact water supply by leaking into it?

10-10-20

Actually, I know what that is. It's the acid flux used when soldering pipes, it acts to allow the solder to flow better around the joints as well as remove any areas of corrosion. It's considered to be non-toxic and washes out of the insides of the pipe once water has been flushed through them. It will be worse on COLD pipes than warm as the cold will pickup moisture and allow the acid to oxidise out to that green-blue colour. It's supposed to be wiped off the pipes after soldering, but many plumbers don't do it properly and it then runs and stains the copper over time. Honestly it's not something to worry about except that it might stain clothes.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121121556#Comment_121121556

Agreed, just clean it off and insulate any cold water pipes which are running through the hot-press.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121122090#Comment_121122090

Only thing is you can get exactly the same on any copper pipe even if compression fittings have been used.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121122204#Comment_121122204

In the photos provided there is no green/blue oxidation around the compression fittings. If you're seeing it on compression fittings then I'd suggest that it's weeping or a cold supply where's it's condensing. The acid is the reactant here and it causes the oxidation to have a slightly blue colour due to it picking up an extra electron over standard copper oxidation which is green. The MSDS of any plumbing flux will show the mixture of acids involved, any of these would cause copper to oxidise in the presence of oxygen and small amounts of moisture.