Copper pipe black with tarnish

Otto

Went out on my first no heat call of the season today. Made my report to owners on the poor condition of the 30 year old Reehm forced air furnace. I look over the equipment rooms or basements for other problems to keep the owners up to speed. Why would domestic hot& cold copper water pipe turn black through out the basement.Only the red marking that ID the pipe were not black. Owner said pipe is only 8&12 years old. Is this tarnish more than moisture of condensation?

Tom Anderson

Could be due to electricity..... either from an electrical grounding point or some kind of current leakage.

Bill NTSG

Poor condition

How poor was the furnace? Did it spill soot and flue gas into the basement?

Steve Ebels

I see that a lot in

Milking parlors. The constant moist environment abd exposure to harsh soaps and acids will really blacken the copper. Do they have a laundry in the basement?

Bill NTSG

All day

I just spent a 12 hour day in the same environment. The cold water pipe was black! All of the insulation [overhead, pink Owens corning] was black with soot due to infrequent boiler maintainence. The laundry was also in the basement , No dryer vent.

The cold water pipes "sweat" with condensation and the soot and dust collect on the damp surface and start a life of their own. The house I was in is 18-20 yrs old and on it's third boiler. When I sanded the copper to make new connections it cleaned up bright. Copper will also turn black when exposed to rain.

Glenn Harrison

Might be sulfur in water

I have several customers in my area with severe sulfur (rotten egg smell) problems with their well water, and their copper pipes are are darkened, including the refrigerant tubing in the geothermal heat pumps at one house.

heatboy

I would be more concerned............

about using "M" (red print) copper for domestic water use.

hb

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Geo_2

I don't think I've ever been in a ( damp)basement were the water main was not black. Humidity in the air picks up alot of soot and dirt.