What is this a result of?

ZepTepi · May 25, 2015

Can someone please tell me what is causing what you see in the attached pics of some of our copper pipes? I've was told by a plumber that this is the result of not having a Biocide filter installed when our current boilers were installed roughly 5 years ago. Based on my research it sees like this was incorrect info. I believe this is related to the water chemistry. Am I correct and, if so, what is the recommended treatment besides replacing the damaged piping such as what you see in the pics. two of the areas of pipe you see have recently begun to leak.

Thank You for you help with this.

Mark in San Diego

IFIXH20 · May 25, 2015

Too much flux.... Someone may have used too much flux during installation. If so, this is just the beginning of your leaks.

frodo · May 25, 2015

the lines should have been treated prier to use if its a commercial building.

quarantine building for 72 hours..turn off water at meter,

add bleach to water distrbution piping..at same time, add a pump to system

circulate bleach/water in pipeing for 24 hours

flush,,,and run for 24 hours.

capture 1 sample each from low, middle, and high in system.have tested by health department before allowing personnel to use as potable water

to sanitize correctly, you need to know footage and size of piping, to determine gallons

then 10% bleach solution to that #

ZepTepi · Jun 1, 2015

Unfortunately this is in a hotel so quarantining the building is a no go. I spoke to a plumber who has done work here before and he said two things have to happen:

Those sections of pipe that are leaking or otherwise compromised need to be replaced.
The water needs to be treated on a regular basis to keep this from happening again.

I had another plumber who told me over the phone that this happened because when the new boilers & storage tanks were installed 5-7 years ago they didn't install a Biocide filter at the same time. Based on my research & conversation with the other plumber I am not confident in that info being correct.

frodo said:
the lines should have been treated prier to use if its a commercial building.

quarantine building for 72 hours..turn off water at meter,

add bleach to water distribution piping..at same time, add a pump to system

circulate bleach/water in piping for 24 hours

flush,,,and run for 24 hours.

capture 1 sample each from low, middle, and high in system.have tested by health department before allowing personnel to use as potable water

to sanitize correctly, you need to know footage and size of piping, to determine gallons

then 10% bleach solution to that #

frodo · Jun 1, 2015

call your health department. ask them where to take samples of water to,to confirm water is potable.

fill a mason jar with water and have it checked out by the lab.

go from there

Mr_David · Jun 1, 2015

Frodo is just messing with you. It's not a biohazard.
Frodo! Go to time out for being a bad boy.

Probably nothing wrong with the water
You have a bad solder joint.
Water has been seeping out for a long time. It's a Small leak. Not enough to create a drip.
Because of the heat, the water is vaporizing leaving the minerals in the water behind.
You just need to shut it down and have the joint replaced.

I have seen joints like that remain unrepaired for several years.
Sometimes you report them and nothing is done because they don't want to spend the money .
They wait until it leaks and then they fix it.