If you have copper plumbing fixtures, they will turn green eventually without proper care. This being said, Five Star Plumbing advises that this isn’t the only reason why plumbing fixtures turn green. There are other things that can turn your stainless steel or chrome plumbing fixtures green. In some cases, the plumbing fixtures may be stained so badly that they will need to be replaced. Let’s talk about situations that introduce a green color onto your plumbing fixtures.
Corroded Fixtures
If the water that flows out of your faucets has a high mineral content, you have hard water. Hard water is notorious for sustaining plumbing fixtures. It definitely turns copper and lead green, although you should not have any lead in your household plumbing. Hard water can also stain your stainless steel and chrome plumbing fixtures. In some cases, the stains will be green or teal. Either way, it’s very difficult to get hard water stains off of your plumbing fixtures and out of your tubs and sinks.
Multiple Metals
There is that unique chemical reaction to water when it touches two different metals that are touching each other. This reaction is called electrolysis. When this happens, the metals turn green. To explain this further, assume for the moment that the plumbing going into your bathroom sink is a combination of stainless steel and copper. When the stainless steel and copper pipes touch at the joint, electrolysis occurs when the water runs past them. This turns this joint green. Consequently, the green hue will seep into the water and flow out into your sink. Water that has splashed onto the faucet can turn it green.
Mold and Mildew
Finally, mold and mildew are green or blue-green and they can turn your plumbing fixtures the same color. No matter how clean you keep your kitchen and bathrooms, warm and wet conditions encourage mold and mildew growth on the fixtures, especially around the base of the fixtures. Unfortunately, once the mold or mildew begins to grow, it will turn the plumbing fixture green. The most common mold that grows on plumbing fixtures is Penicillium. You can clean the mold and mildew off of your plumbing fixtures naturally by using white vinegar and baking soda mixed.
If your plumbing fixtures are so green that you need to replace them, call Five Star Plumbing in Castroville, TX. We would be happy to come to your home and give you a quote on how much it will cost to replace your plumbing fixtures.
