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Unread 01/10/2017, 11:50 AM   #1
tzylak
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White growth on my chiller piping

My chiller's copper tubing has white growth all over it. I read that the white layer is a protective coating for copper. The deal is that this layer keeps growing, and I imagine that some of the copper material is consumed during that growth. My concern is that eventually the tubing will be eaten away by this process requiring for me to replace the chiller.
Now I am thinking of coating (or saturating) that growth with some protector such as silicone spray, or such, to stop or slow down the process.
The other option is to leave it alone and let time to do its thing.
What do you say?


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Unread 01/10/2017, 12:33 PM   #2
DSMreefer
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Copper coils and piping can have a coating on them to protect them from corrosion. The coating however should not be accumulating. It usually looks like a paint but is actually an epoxy. Do you have a pic? I'm going to assume its salt creep or calcium deposits. Calcium will not eat the copper but salt may be corrosive. Salt creep can be removed with water. If it's calcium vinger can be used.

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Unread 01/10/2017, 02:54 PM   #3
bertoni
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I'd like to see a picture, too. Copper shouldn't be in contact with saltwater.


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Unread 01/12/2017, 01:17 PM   #4
tzylak
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Here are the pictures:

http:// photo Chiller 1_zpsvwoknluw.jpg

http:// photo Chiller 3_zpsywfprdgt.jpg


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Unread 01/12/2017, 01:54 PM   #5
ReefsandGeeks
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Looks like you have saltwater dripping back there, causing the coper to corrode. you can see the salt on the side of the chiller in the last pic, and the dried salt on the ground below it.


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Unread 01/12/2017, 06:19 PM   #6
bertoni
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I agree that saltwater seems to be getting onto the chiller. That's going to cause a lot of corrosion. It might be possible that this is the effect of condensation combined with saltwater in the air, as well. As another possibility, there might be a slow leak or two. I'd get someone who understands this type of piping to look at the setup if you can't find a saltwater source that is leaking onto the setup.


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Unread 01/12/2017, 09:09 PM   #7
br88dy
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You might wanna find a safe way to remove that build up with a baking soda/water solution.


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Unread 12/14/2017, 12:32 PM   #8
tzylak
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Almost a year later, as a follow up, I finally removed the chiller, rinsed the piping with vinegar, then water. Once dry, I painted the copper pipes with lacquer.
Now it looks like new.


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Unread 12/20/2017, 05:52 PM   #9
BeachBumm
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Those pipes are holding refrigerant not saltwater . Like everyone has said saltwater is dripping on it and if it corrodes too much you will lose your 134A charge and then chiller quits! Usually the device the saltwater is going through is made from titanium .


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Unread 12/20/2017, 07:46 PM   #10
bertoni
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So there wasn't much corrosion of the pipes yet? That's good to know.


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