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Plumbing piping is usually hidden from view, and what most people know about it is based on the few times they’ve seen the piping, where it is exposed to the surface. If you believe you have copper piping, you are probably correct, as copper tubing has been installed in approximately 80 % of all American buildings.

Copper tubing has been in use in America for over 50 years. Just since 1963 alone, over 5,000,000 miles of copper piping has been installed in the country, almost enough to reach to the sun. Copper is in use because compared to older types of piping, copper is relatively resistant to corrosion, and to permeation by liquids and gases. Copper used in plumbing tubing must meet certain specifications. It may contain a trace of pure silver and a small amount of phosphorus.

While a great advance over early materials used for plumbing piping, the downside of copper is that in time, some pipes will develop corrosion and subsequent pin hole leaks. The type of corrosion which causes the leaks is described as “pitting.” It begins on the inner surface, attacks specific parts of the metal, and is divided into three categories.

The three categories of corrosion are of interest because they occur at different levels of acidity and hardness of the water. Type II pitting occurs at low Ph, below 7.2, at high temperatures and in soft water. Type I pitting occurs in cold water at average ph, between 7.2 and 8.0, and in hard water. Type III pitting occurs at high ph and in cold, soft water.

The question that really concerns scientists is what is causing the pitting corrosion in copper piping. The answer is taken from many sources and includes a number of possible causes.

Among the causes of corrosion about which there is agreement, we find, aggressive water flow in pipes too narrow for the flow rate and poor workmanship. And at least two studies found that forms of free chlorine can promote corrosion of copper pipes. Multiple studies found that aluminum containing compounds can promote corrosion Other causes are frequently mentioned but at times appear to contradict one another. Soft water, (water low in metals), and or the use of water softeners is a frequently mentioned cause of corrosion. Both low and high ph are mentioned. One study found that lack of organic material is a cause, and another found that high assimilable organic compounds are a cause. Although most studies noted rapidly flowing water as a cause of pitting corrosion, one study found that stagnant water and chemical conditions that promote bacteria growth can lead to corrosion.

Assessing the conclusions from the various studies and putting them together, we can arrange the possible causes of pitting corrosion into a hierarchy of four causes. The first is mechanical, and involve either poor pipe selection or poor routing which leads to high velocity damage. The second is also mechanical and involves pipe damage from poor workmanship. The third factorial level involves various chemical stresses. The fourth level involves biological attacks on the pipes from microorganisms growing inside the tubing.
While studies are still ongoing in many centers, and conclusions and recommendations are still being drawn, we find that after 50 years of successful use of copper pipes, scientists are now looking at the downside of the copper tubing. The results of this research will be recommendations for preventing corrosion, and possibly increased use of PVC, (polyvinyl chloride) plumber piping.

This report has been brought to you courtesy of A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore. A-1 Plumbing is a Baltimore plumbing company with expertise in plumbing pipe repair.

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