Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Kenneth Whitelaw's Avatar
    Kenneth Whitelaw Guest

    Default Copper Pipe Corrosion

    Hello all. Though I've been lurking and gleaning much knowledge from the forums, I think this is my first post!

    I found this in an attic. It is a vent pipe. It is dry. and it looks like swiss cheese. Any ideas what could cause this?

    Thank you in advance.

    Kenny

    Similar Threads:
    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    Last edited by Kenneth Whitelaw; 04-29-2013 at 09:48 PM.
    Member Benefits1

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
    Posts
    3,747

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    My guess.
    Sometimes sewer gasses can be quite corrosive.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Posts
    3,154

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    KW,

    That was very cool. I have never seen anything like that. Thanks for posting.

    Department of Redundancy Department
    Supreme Emperor of Hyperbole
    http://www.FullCircleInspect.com/

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    2,809

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    Kenneth,
    Was the damage localized to only that 3 ft section of pipe?


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    2,048

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    I should remember why this happens but I don't.
    PM Ron Hasil he should be able to provide a solid answer. He's Mr. Plumper

    www.aic-chicago.com
    773/844-4AIC
    "The Code is not a ceiling to reach but a floor to work up from"

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Bennett (Denver metro), Colorado
    Posts
    1,461

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    I have never seen any damage that bad. There were a few years when a thin wall copper tubing was popular (maybe because of high copper prices). My father in law's place had it. It started getting pin hole leaks and I sent a plumber over to redo it.

    Of course, no way to judge from the photo, if this problem is similar.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario
    Posts
    4,982

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    This discussion may assist in ascertaining a cause.

    Copper tube "rusted" through [Archive] - Shop Floor Talk


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    48

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    The picture doesnt give me a good understanding of whats going on. From what I see the same corrosive substance is on the wood next to the pipe, or below?? (I cant tell because of the direction the pic was taken) Could there have been something dripping on the pipe and/or wood? Was there some kind of chemical in the area to cause this? And maybe Im just seeing the picture wrong, why is there insulation against the roof sheeting? I would like to see more pictures of the area and better info.
    Jeff


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Oviedo, Florida
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    Quote Originally Posted by Kenneth Whitelaw View Post
    Hello all. Though I've been lurking and gleaning much knowledge from the forums, I think this is my first post!

    I found this in an attic. It is a vent pipe. It is dry. and it looks like swiss cheese. Any ideas what could cause this?

    Thank you in advance.

    Kenny
    My guess is the rats that urinated on the copper thought it was swiss cheese too.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,042

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    Quote Originally Posted by Ronin Kossow View Post
    My guess is the rats that urinated on the copper ...
    ... when they fell through the holes and said 'WTH ... ?' as they fell through ...

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    112

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    Quote Originally Posted by Kenneth Whitelaw View Post
    Hello all. Though I've been lurking and gleaning much knowledge from the forums, I think this is my first post!

    I found this in an attic. It is a vent pipe. It is dry. and it looks like swiss cheese. Any ideas what could cause this?

    Thank you in advance.

    Kenny
    Appears to be solder flux was spilled when the joint was soldered.


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    548

    Default Re: Copper Pipe Corrosion

    Quote Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells View Post
    Kenneth,
    Was the damage localized to only that 3 ft section of pipe?

    That is what I would wonder, as a plumber I would check the integrity of the pipe that doesn't look like that by squeezing the pipe. In 99% of the swiss cheesed pipes I ran into be it copper, galvanized, or cast iron, it was caused by drain cleaners. The caustic fumes from the drain cleaners mix with condensation in the venting system and rots the pipe out from the inside out. Another issues is trapped water, if they do not have proper pitch on the vent pipes so any condensate can properly and quickly drain into the plumbing system.

    On Copper DWV systems DWV copper is the thinnest copper pipe out there. Lots of cities now want the copper DWV to be plumbed in with Type M copper.


Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •