green residue on copper pipes (near joints - caused by flux)

[lemon_1]

I've been inspecting the pipework in my house and have noticed on a number of them a green residue around the joint area.

Now, I believe this is caused by flux that is left behind if the joint wasn't cleaned properly after being soldered.

What are the chances of this becoming a serious problem; i.e. could it cause holes in the pipework? Is there anything I can do to stop the residue / corrosion?

By the way I did give the pipework a quick rub with steel wool which removed the green residue; is this enough to stop it?

 

[ianmcd]

yes just clean it with steel wool then a quick wipe with a damp rag and it will be fine

 

[lemon_1]

yes just clean it with steel wool then a quick wipe with a damp rag and it will be fine

Thanks for that. However still a bit worried about the pipework that I can't see. There's some pipework behind kitchen units, under floorboards, etc. I imagine some of the hidden joints will also have the same problem. Do I need to start lifting floorboards, etc to clean all of them?

 

[shambolic]

Move house

 

[d.j.]

Move house

lol

 

[shambolic]

lol

He never found it funny !

 

[dilalio]

He never found it funny !
View attachment 143444

That's 99% of the housing stock f€cked then eh! Maybe I'll start a pipe cleaning business

 

[Notch7]

He never found it funny

I did

he's a right little hothouse flower

 

[durhamplumber]

Jeez..The fekin snowflake generation..Offended by any and everything.No sense of humour
OP. do not move house..rip every board up and locate every last inch(heard of those.Don't be offended by my imperialism)..of green and remove it...take all the plaster of the walls to find hidden pipes.. Then sit back and relax...you have destroyed your house...but hey..no green and no trauma of moving..
PS...either grow a pair...find a sense of humour or get out more and stop worrying about shy...te all.

 

[ianmcd]

Thanks for that. However still a bit worried about the pipework that I can't see. There's some pipework behind kitchen units, under floorboards, etc. I imagine some of the hidden joints will also have the same problem. Do I need to start lifting floorboards, etc to clean all of them?

You will get a lot of great advice on here. but you have to have a sense of humour.

 

[Combicert]

Bloody hell lads - been gone a couple of days and you’re causing havoc

For what its worth —— funny

 

[lemon_1]

You will get a lot of great advice on here. but you have to have a sense of humour, otherwise you will only get advice from the amateurs on here like me .

The sense of humour seems to be one way though. They can dish it out but can't take if you stick it to them! The premise of this whole forum is a bit paradoxical for pro's. pros hate DIY'ers because we're doing them out of a job! So I understand the resentment.

Anyway, I'll answer my own question. Modern fluxes tend to be non-acidic and self cleaning. These will leave a green residue over time but will not corrode copper pipe.

How do you know if you're pipe work had acidic or Non acidic flux? Well that's the 64k question!

 

[ianmcd]

pros hate DIY'ers because we're doing them out of a job!

Well why are the pros helping the Diy`ers out then ?

 

[Combicert]

The sense of humour seems to be one way though. They can dish it out but can't take if you stick it to them! The premise of this whole forum is a bit paradoxical for pro's. pros hate DIY'ers because we're doing them out of a job! So I understand the resentment.

Anyway, I'll answer my own question. Modern fluxes tend to be non-acidic and self cleaning. These will leave a green residue over time but will not corrode copper pipe.

How do you know if you're pipe work had acidic or Non acidic flux? Well that's the 64k question!

For what it’s worth, i disagree.

I’d much sooner see a DIY’er come for advice and do a decent job than flood a home and cause suffering.

There are a lot of good chaps on here who give some very sound advice - and will check in a couple of times a day to help people out if they can.

I’ve been on countless jobs where the customer has asked advice as they can’t afford/don’t want to get ‘a man in’ and i’m more than happy to point them in the right direction, even though i know it’ll end up costing me money in the long run... so giving someone advice over a forum is more of a mini hobby than anything (although advice on a forum can be quite hard to give sometimes...)

I think what irks people on here is when sound advice is given and then ignored/belittled - makes you wonder why they asked in the first place.

There are a lot of good pro’s on here - all willing to give their time and expertise - and at no cost. Every day is a school day ‘n all that.

 

[lemon_1]

Well why are the pros helping the Diy`ers out then ?

You've been a member here for a long time. Home boy please.

There are always exceptions to every rule. But homie please, don't tell me that all pros help diyers