XO Seattle

What is galvanic corrosion in your pipes?

Galvanic corrosion is an electrical reaction between two different metals sitting in water. Water carries dissolved minerals, so it acts as an electrolyte and lets a tiny current flow between the metals. One metal becomes the anode and gives up material, while the other, the cathode, stays protected. In plumbing that usually means the steel or iron side corrodes fast while the copper sits there untouched.

Why does the joint between copper and steel give way?

The metals are not equal in this reaction. Copper is the more noble metal, so it pulls material away from the galvanised steel beside it, and the steel slowly gives up its zinc coating and then its wall. As the steel thins, the threads holding the joint together lose their grip and their strength. Threaded connections suffer worst here, because the metal is already cut thin at the thread before any corrosion starts.

What are the warning signs of a corroding pipe joint?

Mixed-metal joints usually give a few hints before they let go.

What happens when a corroded pipe shears in your Cirencester home?

A shear is the fast kind of failure. The joint lets go and mains water pours out at full pressure, soaking floors, ceilings and anything stored nearby within minutes. A pipe that fails in a loft or upstairs can bring down a ceiling and ruin the rooms below before anyone reaches the stop tap. The clean-up and repair bill grows with every minute the water runs. Here is a detail that trips people up.

When should you call an emergency plumber in Cirencester?

Some plumbing jobs can wait for a booked slot, but a failing pipe cannot.