discolored copper piping

creger.robert

have job approx. 1 year old-pole barn with radiant-they make hard cider in building-copper piping is very discolored in one year any thoughts or suggestions

kcopp

Insulate it w a plastic coated Zeston sleeve.

Jamie Hall

What's the discolouration? Just on the surface? May be almost impossible to avoid. It's not likely to be a functional problem, but if it's a cosmetic problem one could try to get rid of the discoloouration and then put a clear finish on it. Might be able to clean it with one of the metal polishes -- if you have the time and energy -- or steel wool.

BillW

Acidic water will color copper, in fact the "verdigris" color so loved by architects on grand buildings like Biltmore Estate or the Hoboken Railroad Station or the Statue of Liberty is the result of exposure to rain, sun and acidic chemicals floating around in the air. If the discolorization is black, it may be related in to something used in the cider-making process. Sulfur will blacken copper, but I am not sure about the sulfur content of apples or hard cider.

JUGHNE

Any livestock/manure around this barn?
It will do a number on copper/brass.

A simple way of measuring excessive ammonia amounts in hog barns was to hang a section of copper pipe for a time and observe color changes. There may have been a color chart for comparison. (not unlike PH litmus colors).
Years ago one farmer put a 5 ton resi AC system in a hog confinement. The inside copper coil lasted maybe a year.
Evap coils in bone (gut) rooms are prone to leaks also.