"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
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"Mike Dobony" wrote in message
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"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
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"Mike Dobony" wrote in message
...
We have a whirlpool in our basement and the copper is getting covered
with a green,semi-powdery coating. I have tried several cleaners and
even electrical cleaner, but this stuff is stubbornly staying in place.
Anybody know of a way to clean this off without scraping? Thanks.

Mike D.


You didn't specify WHICH copper was turning green, so I'll assume you
mean the pipes leading to the whirlpool. Here's an explanation of the
green color:


Nowhere near the whirlpool. They are in the next room.

"Copper exposed to water, oxygen, and CO2 in the air form a complex
mixture
of oxides and carbonates, referred to as "patina". The presence of acids
accelerates the process."Basically, it's copper's version of rust. No
need to obsess about it. But, copper wasn't the best choice for the
pipes which are close to the whirlpool. PVC (plastic) would've been
better.


No need to be obsessed about it, but makes it difficult to sell the house
for a good price. Grey poly is running to the whirlpool. These are in
the next room and are the main lines running up to a manifold to run
individual poly lines to each sink/faucet/etc.

I mentioned "adjacent" because any of the factors can accelerate the
oxidation. If the area around the pipes is damp at all, you're going to
get the green stuff. Has anyone looked at the house and actually commented
on it? Customer? Realtor? If yes, get to a hardware store and pick up one
of the paste-type products made for cleaning the green away. But, if you
don't find the cause, it's going to return.


Realtor and potential buyers have all commented on it. It is hard NOT to
comment on such an obvious and unusual attribute (unusual for plumbing and
in such large quantity, i.e. solid on all the cold supply and minor coloring
on the hot). I have a potential buyer we are negoting with right now, but
he wants to take out the whirlpool and wants it replaced with copper. The
whirlpool is a strong selling point of the house and best option for them is
for me to replace it with CPVC.