Steel and copper together.

t. tekushan

I'm guessing old age. The most immediate problem with copper is when it is used in the steam supply or header piping. It expands more than steel and since there is no "give" to the soldered joints they will strain and begin to leak.

I know there is galvanic action between the steel and the copper but I would think this would be most pronounced at the connection points between the copper and steel. I've often wondered why brass bodied valves and traps don't cause similar problems. I should get off my butt and look at the table of the galvanic series to see where each metal falls with respect to anodes and cathodes.

Any metallurgists out there?

David Hohengasser

Mixed Steel and copper pipe

The dry returns on my steam system are 1-1/4" copper instead of steel. Do the dis-similar metals cause problems with boiler life? To what degree? The copper has been in place for 15 years. Previously it was steel. I have a hole at the waterline in one boiler, but it is 40 years old. Should I attribute the hole to the piping or just old age?

Mark Eatherton1

Yellow brass...

is neutral to both steel and copper. If you don't have room for a brass valve, a brass adapter will eliminate the potential for substantial electrolysis.

The hole at the water line most probably came from oxygen which is a prevelant problem with steam boilers.

ME

ScottMP

Also PH

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