Odor from new pipe going on 4 days - health concerns for kids?

John_153 · January 2007

Thanks all, from a 1st time greenhorn steam user. After cleaning the pipe out with a rag wrapped around a long copper pipe (there was no oil, gunk or even smell that showed up on the cleaning rag), then flushing the system out twice (the water that was flushed did have the smell in it) and letting the system run overnight, with the thermostat set at 56 degrees and the windows cracked open, and the vents opened just a little, the upstairs smell is now almost gone. It still smells strong near the new pipe in the basement when the heat is on though, but Im guessing its the insulation and guess it will go away after a few days after all your replies.

While searching the Internet about the odor, although not related, I found these few stories rather interesting about what is in the water and I would like to share them as a thanks for all your responses:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2007/01/18

includes:
Underreported: Hand Soap in Lakes and Streams
Underreported: Cinnamon and Spice...and Puget Sound?

Thanks again from a newbie steam user and newbie dad, I sure learned a lot this weekend!
-John

John_153 · January 2007

Odor from new pipe going on 3 days - health concerns for kids?

A new 2" 11' steam pipe was installed three days ago in my basement. The basement has a nauseating odor since and any steam radiator that is fed through this pipe also smells really bad. It is so bad that I had to move my wife and three toddlers out of the house.

Any ideas as to what it could be, i.e., shipping oil inside the pipe? Should steam pipes be cleaned before being installed? How long should this smell last if this is common? I called the Dept of Public Health and guy from Environmental Epi. and Occupational Health Dept said if it was shipping oil, then its a volatile organic compound and it's not recommended to have kids around 24 hours a day exposed to it. Should the plumber who did this remove and clean any oil or whatever it is from the new pipe? Would Trisodium phosphate work and does that have any detrimental health after effects? Any answers to the above would be appreciated. Thank you!
A concerned dad.
John.

Chris_82 · January 2007

oil pipes steam smell odor

Generally the oil, which covers most black pipe is left on and the smell goes away in about 8-10 days. If you want to clean it... tsp, lysol, soap dish, any window cleaner(that also smells when it is heated), and so on will do the trick. Stay away from things that will catch fire, ie don't clean the oil off with gasoline, kerosene, etc....generally no one bothers because homes and most construction...the heat is on for testing and who cares about the workers, we get exposed to much worse...cleaning the pipe will not cause any problems whatso ever.

Mad Dog_2 · January 2007

TSP is illegal in mANY states

A good alternative is MEX which can be bought in a paint or hardware store. Calm down, it will be ok. Call the plumber and let him know of your concerns. In any case, new steam boilers and new piping WILL smoke and stink for the first week. Close the basment door, tape it off with plastic, open the basemnt windows and let it burn off. Mad Dog

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Mark Wolff_2 · January 2007

MEX

Actually it's MEK for methyl-ethyl ketone I believe. MEK is much more toxic than any fumes you would normally deal with from the pipe on initial heating.

The smell will go away in a few days, don't panic (though it sounds like you already have). As a father of 4 I understand protecting your family from any harm, however it sounds as though this might be a little bit of an over-reaction on your part.

Bob Harper · January 2007

friendly solvent

Fireplace companies have done extensive testing with various solvents to degrease metal surfaces that will get hot. While most are good at degreasing, they tend to leave a film which makes an odor when heated. Thus, you are trading once foreign material with another.

Their recommendation is to use citrus solvent cleaners such as the orange products so common now. Any chemist will tell you citrus is an excellent degreaser and it burns off quickly without any noxious fumes. I"ve used these citrus solvents daily for years as a factory rep. sent out to resolve odor complaints and it is the only thing we would recommend. It works.

Any time you get funky odors associated with combustion appliances, it is critical the unit be inspected and tested for CO spillage just in case. You want to rule out aldehydes as what you're smelling because CO is always present if aldehydes are, too.

ttekushan_3 · January 2007

oil inside the pipe

will be the only thing to cause odor to eminate from the radiator vents.

Operation of the system at its saturation point (fully hot) will be the only way to literally steam clean the radiators' inside surfaces.

Between each heating, the plumber should then skim the boiler's water surface, and drain the wet returns to remove oils sitting on the water's surface. Removal and replacement of that pipe now will do very little good.

Any boiler installation manual will have proper instructions for boiler cleaning after installation. Introduction of threading oils and preservative oils ANYWHERE in a steam heating system requires that this be done. Every impurity will find its way back to the boiler and any piping below the water line.

Clean it and the odor will disappear. Even if the odor is disappearing, have the boiler cleaned. Those oils are still there, destroying the boiler's operating efficiency by contaminating the steam.

Steamhead (in transit) · January 2007

Two different things

MEX is a soap like TSP but more environmentally friendly. MEK is a solvent which must be used with some care. MEX is what we use to clean steam systems if flushing and skimming don't work.

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Odor from new pipe going on 4 days - health concerns for kids?

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