Copper Pipe Turns Green

[Cavie]

Have a customer who called because the copper water pipes in his house have turned green. Without getting into all that I found there was current traveling on the copper pipes. I have corrected that condition. Has anyone seen this happen and will the green slowly go away now that the current has been removed? Not sure if the current flow turns copper pipe green.

If it's well water, have it checked for sulfur content. I knew couple that kept the jewelry in the car because it destroyed everything in the house.

 

[LarryFine]

Correct but current flow will accelerate the process.

As will elevated temperatures.

 

[LarryFine]

I know plumbers that have had to re-pipe whole homes from galvanized fittings being used.

Does that mean we should use brass/bronze clamps instead of galvanized ones?

 

[LarryFine]

In my case, it was just one hot wire to one of the breakers. The entire end where the insulation was stripped was green except where the screw made contact. It was tight too.

I'd be willing to bet that the wire was still being heated despite the tight connection. It still could have been resistive, or the breaker may have been generating heat.

 

[hillbilly1]

I have seen where the plumber sweating the fittings, did not wipe the joint after sweating it, cause it to turn green from the left over flux. (which I believe is a corrosive agent)

 

[wptski]

I'd be willing to bet that the wire was still being heated despite the tight connection. It still could have been resistive, or the breaker may have been generating heat.

I was looking at a double 30A breaker on a water heater at the time in the PB. This is the only IR image I have that shows enough of that side of the PB where the connection/wires would be. Not the best of images but I've marked where that breaker was and not a single wire is showing up in the image, so there was no heating at all.

 

[wptski]

I'd be willing to bet that the wire was still being heated despite the tight connection. It still could have been resistive, or the breaker may have been generating heat.

On the other hand this compressor OL that deveoped a high resistance and had a voltage drop or what some refer to as a FOP of 3.2V has a bit of green on it(top of image). So much for the safety of a OL! The tags are in F not C, not sure why they didn't show in the image.

 

[LarryFine]

. . . I've marked where that breaker was and not a single wire is showing up in the image, so there was no heating at all.

Maybe there was no load on at the time of the imaging.

 

[wptski]

Maybe there was no load on at the time of the imaging.

True, I really can't say for sure that there was! I'll have to look into it the next time I'm there.

 

[BAHTAH]

Sorry for the bad information.

Sorry for the bad information.

I have been away and finally had time to get back to this post. Thanks for all the info. I am sorry that I gave some bad info. The pipes were not turning geen externally but the water was turning green. When the water was not used during the night the water would turn green and once the water was used in the morning the water would clear up. The water was tested, the owner spend over $12k trying to correct this problem (experts, water filtering system etc.)After we removed the problem with the parallel between the grounded circuit conductor and the copper pipe it appears the water problem has gone away. The water is now clear and the General is getting a bill for the $12K. I don't think the General will be using the Electrical Contractor who did the original install, in the future. Thanks again for all the input.

 

[LarryFine]

. . . the General is getting a bill for the $12K.

Please let us know how that one goes.

 

[Jason E De Lorenzo Sr]

Copper Pipe Turns Green

So lightning turner the statue of liberty green?

 

[LarryFine]

So lightning turner the statue of liberty green?

No; envy.

 

[George Stolz]

After we removed the problem with the parallel between the grounded circuit conductor and the copper pipe it appears the water problem has gone away.

Can you describe what was wrong and what you did in more detail?

 

[Fulthrotl]

Can you describe what was wrong and what you did in more detail?

sounds like the local water chemistry has minerals that react with
the copper pipe in the presence of current flow, and overnight the
water stays motionless long enough to be tinted.

 

[BAHTAH]

Green Water

Green Water

Can you describe what was wrong and what you did in more detail?

Home has 400amp service with a 200amp feeder to a sub panel. Original contractor, for what ever reason decided to ground the neutral at the sub panel and bond to the water pipe. We removed the ground and bond. Neutral is bonded at the service panel and connected the the UFER ground which is bonded to the water. As mentioned, by one of the responders to this post, we think the water turned green because it was not flowing during the night and with the current flowing on the pipe caused some type of oxidation or what ever reaction with the copper pipe. Once the water flowed the color would go away until the next night. We are still waiting to hear about the 12K bill to the General.. If I hear gun shots I will let you know.

Thanks again for all the responces.

 

[George Stolz]

Original contractor, for what ever reason decided to ground the neutral at the sub panel and bond to the water pipe. We removed the ground and bond.

That's all I was looking for.

I don't know why the water would be green.