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Oxidization, Oh My!

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itowngirl87
itowngirl87 Member Posts: 3
edited December 10 in THE MAIN WALL

Hi Heating Community! My fellow and I have a home in Upstate NY with hot water baseboard heat. While prepping for winter, we opened the dining room baseboards to clean them, and discovered oxidized connections and some corrosion.

Our guess is the vent may have leaked previously, causing oxidation. Not sure if it has been like this since we moved in (2018) or earlier (home is from 1952). Given the condition, we’re hesitant to bleed excess air from the system.

To our experts out there: should this be addressed now, or can it wait until spring?

IMG-20251206-WA0077.jpg
IMG-20251206-WA0080.jpg

Comments

  • psb75
    psb75 Member Posts: 1,091

    I'm gonna guess that your system has GLYCOL (anti-freeze) in it. It can be very corrosive on components. Are you seeing this "greeness" anywhere else? Don't even think of bleeding air from that fitting! There should be an automatic device on the system near the boiler that bleeds air out. Also manual air bleeding of the system should be done near the boiler. You can probably get through the winter, but it is high-time that someone qualified should evaluate your system.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,331

    you might clean it up and see if it is leaking somewhere on a day when you have some time to deal with fixing it if it is leaking. could also be flux that wasn't removed or pets or rodents or insects getting various substances on it. that is kind of a weird pattern for a leak but glycol can spread like that.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,381

    I doubt it is glycol. Could have been flux left on the joint. If it isn't leaking leave it until spring. Keep an eye on it. Know how to shut the boiler down and shut off the water if you have an issue.

    bburd
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,372

    Looks like the sloppy plumber never wiped the soldering flux off. If there are no active drips or wetness, you MAY very well get through the heating season and many more. That being said, nothing is guaranteed. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • itowngirl87
    itowngirl87 Member Posts: 3

    Thank you all!

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 26,449

    I would not try to clean it or even touch it. The green scale could be covering and sealing a pin hole in the copper, that the flux caused.

    If that is a bleeder, it is not very helpful in that location, have them eliminate it when they repipe.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream

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