Are Green Copper Pipes Bad

When evaluating the pipes in your home, you may have come across pipes that were once fully copper now showing green on them. This happens when copper mixes with oxygen and other materials in the air over time. The term for the green color on your copper pipes is patina. Below are some reasons you may have patina, letting you know if green copper pipes are bad.

The Cause of Patina

Patina is the green color that can come up on copper piping. This happens from the process called oxidation – when the copper is exposed to water and air for a long time. This green color is basically how copper rusts. A great example of this is the Statue of Liberty, which is made of copper. Patina can actually be good for your copper piping because it can create an extra barrier for water, but if patina is showing up on your pipes, it could indicate that your plumbing wasn’t originally done correctly.

What Does Patina Do to Your Plumbing

Patina can signal that your pipes have a leak or lead to a larger leak in your pipes. It is important to replace these pipes to avoid a leak, which can be more costly. Using water that comes from copper piping with patina on it can cause health problems, so it’s essential to have these pipes replaced by an experienced plumber.

Knowing what patina is and what it could mean for you and your pipes can make you nervous, but an experienced plumber can help you with this issue. Your pipes could potentially leak, and addressing the problem now can help you save money. At D. Rohde Heating & Plumbing, we can help you address your green copper pipes with our seasoned plumbers. If you’re in the Poughkeepsie, NY area and need a plumber, contact us today.