Oxidation on Copper Gas Line

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Line feeds a gas water heater. Can anyone tell me the reason for this oxidation? If it was a water pipe, I'd know the answer. Thought it was unusual for gas.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Should be in plumbing section. Sorry!

[Bruce A. King]

My guess is lack of proper cleaning after the soldering process.

[Jay Moge]

........or, if those joints aren't 100% gas tight, a leak will be present, propane and n.g. are realy realy cold when the run threw the pipe, and when they leak, condensation will occur and there's your moisture, maybe?

[Jay Moge]

Originally Posted by bking

My guess is lack of proper cleaning after the soldering process.

i like that too, acid in the flux will cause the same thing sometimes.

[Russel Ray]

I like Bruce and Jay's answers.

[David P. Valley]

3/4 inch copper line for gas with joints???????? Wow....

You won't see that in my area. 1/4 inch copper tubing (with no joints) is the maximum I see in Massachusetts.

Is that piping legal in your area?

Maybe they should have used threaded black iron.

[Russel Ray]

I've never seen copper used for gas in any of the states where I have worked.

[Carla Horne]

I'm with David on that one.

that is a hazard waiting to happen!

Carla

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by rray

I've never seen copper used for gas in any of the states where I have worked.

Copper tubing is a norm in the United States.

Here's some learning material for ya....

Attachment 2735

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Copper tubing is a norm in the United States.

Here's some learning material for ya....

Attachment 2735

Found this on that site: "In addition to mechanical joints, or in many cases instead of mechanical joints, brazed joints utilizing ASME/ANSI B16.22 wrought copper fittings may be used in copper gas distribution systems. When brazed connections are required, they should be made using a brazing alloy with a melting point above 1,000 F. The brazing alloy must contain less than 0.05% phosphorus."

So, do ya'll think the fittings are a concern? It's crunch time for me on this report.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

So, do ya'll think the fittings are a concern?

No.

Wow.

One cannot enter a simple No. on our new message board. Has to be at least 4 characters, and spaces apparently don't count as characters.

This new message board and its rules are, quite frankly, irritating and stupid in some cases.

[David P. Valley]

If this 3/4 inch copper pipe was on my inspection, I would be recommending a plumber to evaluate.

[Russel Ray]

I would also, not because of the fittings, but because it's copper tubing being used as a gas supply line. The plumbers here would be replacing the copper gas supply line with galvanized iron or black steel.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dvalley

If this 3/4 inch copper pipe was on my inspection, I would be recommending a plumber to evaluate.

Please tell me exactly why that is?