copper plumbing

[kuwagner]

We have had pinhole leaks in our copper piping below our home causing severe damage three times. What causes this and how do we rectify this problem?

[Norman LipsonParticipant]

Norman:–Pin hole leaks in copper pipe is caused by a process known as Electrolytic Corrosion. It is caused by very tiny amounts of DC electricity(from a few to a few hundred milivolts)that are present in all oiping systems cotaining dissimilar metallic connections. If the water that you have is high in Total Disolved Solids (TDS)or has a high or low pH factor, and you have a high milivoltage present in your piping system, you have pin holes on the way. The DC electrical energy present in the piping will allow the conductive water to leach copper from the walls of the pipe. This leaching is the result of nature trying to establish an equal electrical charge throughout the entire system. It does this by borrowing ions of copper from the more highly charged areas and attempts to send them to the less charged areas. The result of this activity causes the copper to be leached from the walls of the pipe atom by atom until a pinhole breaks through to the surface. It is very difficult to change the quality of the water, It is even harder to deal with the small voltage that is found in the piping system. There is a very effective means to defeat this corrosion problem. By fighting fire with fire…By installing a sacrificial Magnesium anode inside the copper piping system, the forces that are presently eating your copper, will find it easier to eat the Magnesium sacrificial anode, and leave your copper pipe alone. As long as there is a active Magnesium anode in the system, the copper will be spared from Electrolytic Corrosion…BudWe have had pinhole leaks in our copper piping below our home causing severe : damage three times. What causes this and how do we rectify this problem?

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