John Dirks Jr Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 What would cause this corrosion on the water heater isolating valve? Image Insert: 102.78 KB
John Dirks Jr Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Posted March 16, 2008 Originally posted by StevenT The green or the yellow? Either or both.
Jim Katen Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I think the green stuff is caused by an airborne contaminant. - Jim Katen, Oregon
jon_ran Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I would call it "Time to replace the valve." The white stuff is probably a limed over leak. If you were to scrape that stuff off, I can almost guarantee you it will leak.
hausdok Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 Is that a flue pipe over a draft diverter behind it? If so, it might be spilling a little bit of exhaust gas and that would corrode any copper it comes into contact with. OT - OF!!! M.
StevenT Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 As far as the green goes, we know the green on the pipe/valve connection is flux related. Because of the similar color, I wonder if the green on the packing nut is also flux related... maybe. I've seen guys disassemble valves before sweating them because they were concerned with the heat damaging the internal rubber parts. The slight difference in color/texture could be because flux that was not heated/thinned out got on the brass after the heat was applied and the metal cooled down. Hmmmm... sounds good anyway. As far as the yellow/tan "growths" on the valve body, I have no idea. Is/was there anything going on nearby that could have dripped/dropped on it? Maybe the plumber's lunch? I would just clean it off.
John Dirks Jr Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Posted March 16, 2008 Originally posted by hausdok Is that a flue pipe over a draft diverter behind it? If so, it might be spilling a little bit of exhaust gas and that would corrode any copper it comes into contact with. OT - OF!!! M. Mike might be on to something here. It is a flue pipe in the background. It's a fan assisted flue for the water heater. I went back and looked at other pictures I had and noticed a white coloring under the draft diverter. Is this solid evidence of draft spillage? If so, I flat out missed it. I am still within the contractual time frame for amending the report. Who thinks I should make an amendment to the report? The 48 hour contractual time frame will expire at about 4:30 PM today. If I amend the report to include suspicion of draft spillage, what profession is the best to recommend it be referred to in the report? Plumber or HVAC tech? Heres the pic in question. Image Insert: 120.54 KB
John Dirks Jr Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Posted March 16, 2008 The blower does run when the burner is on. If the white coloring is from spillage, why is it dis colored above the diverter? Thats why I dont think it's from spillage. Also, if spillage caused the green stain on the copper fitting, why didn't spillage cause staining on the rest of the copper pipes? I think I'm getting worried about nothing. If I'm wrong, someone please jump in and say so.
Brandon Chew Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I couldn't say for certain what is going on without being there. The green at the joints of the valve body and the copper pipe look they are from flux. The green on the packing nut and valve stem looks like it is from a leak. The yellowish/white stuff on the valve body looks like it is from pinhole leaks in the valve body. Perhaps the valve body casting is poor quality or you have aggressive water chemistry or maybe some of both.
Erby Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Lot's of plumbers (and my own personal experience) tell me the white mineral buildup is from a pinhole leak that has sealed itself shut. Green is usually flux related but could be flue spillage.
jodil Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 CAn someone explain to me what is "flux?" Almost every valve I see here is corroded with the green stuff. What kind of airborne contaminant would cause this? I figured since 90% of valves (and alot of fittings) look like this is what normal.. Thanks
hausdok Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Hi Jodi, Flux is a chemical cleaner used to prepare the metal for soldering. If a plumber isn't careful about wiping down the pipe after the joints have been soldered, the acid in the flux will react to the copper and cause that green corrosion to appear. OT - OF!!! M.
wjmitchell Posted October 27, 2009 Report Posted October 27, 2009 could it be a brass shut off valve and the white stuff is the dezincification result? Green is ACID either flux or from a water softner.
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