Does condensate corrode copper?

Condensate formed from combustion gas is extremely acidic and therefore very corrosive. It can eat through copper piping in a matter of months and through cast iron drains in just a year or so.

How corrosive is boiler condensate?

Condensate from condensing boilers is acidic and corrosive to many materials and should be treated to maintain a pH of no less than 5 before disposal.

Does condensate eat through brass?

That’s why plastic is a good drain material. Stainless steel might be acceptable in some situations. I’d be careful about using brass, iron, copper, galvanized pipe. Condensate piping shall be of approved corrosion-resistant material and shall not be smaller than the drain connection on the appliance.

Can condensate pipes be copper?

Construction. The condensate pipe must be plastic – usually solvent-weld fittings – and at least 22 mm in diameter. Copper or steel pipework cannot be used. This is because, at a pH of 3-4, the condensate is slightly acidic and would corrode it.

Is condensate water corrosive?

Carbonic acid is a weak acid, but as the condensate water is pure, this weak acid reduces the pH significantly, often in the range of 5-6. At this low pH, the condensate water is very corrosive to carbon steel piping.

Why is furnace condensate acidic?

Your high efficiency furnace is powered by combusting natural gas. The burning of natural gas creates water and carbon monoxide as by-products. Although the waste water, or condensate, created by combustion is technically clean, it has a PH between 2.9 and 4, which makes it acidic.

Where does condensate pipe go?

Where should a boiler condensate pipe go? The HHIC states that: ‘When fitting a new or replacement boiler, the condensate discharge pipe should be connected to an internal ‘gravity discharge point’, such as an internal soil stack, internal kitchen or bathroom waste pipe such as sink, basin, bath or shower waste.

Is furnace water Toxic?

The condensate has a pH level of about four, which is about the same as a carbonated soft drink. However, furnace condensate is not safe to drink because of trace toxic chemicals it contains.”

What type of pipe is used for condensate?

The recommended material to use for a condensate system is stainless steel. Stainless steel greatly enhances the pipes’ ability to withstand the corrosive attack for a longer, more reliable operational life.

What happens if condensate is left in a pipe?

Furnace and boiler condensate can corrode those pipes. And if the fluid sits in a pipe or a trap and evaporates, it becomes even more concentrated — and more corrosive. Plumbing codes everywhere address that issue. Before you can drain any corrosive liquid into the house drains, you have to neutralize it.

Do you need a condensate drain on a gas furnace?

All condensate drains go into a trap. The condensate trap is absolutely mandatory for a high-efficiency gas furnace. Since the drain taps into the exhaust system, leaving it open to the air would allow for a potential exhaust/flue gas leak in the living space, which is a big no-no.

Can furnace condensate go into a septic tank?

For more information on this issue, see Furnace Condensate Proves Tricky to Manage. Don’t sweat the acidity of the condensate going into the septic tank. The volume is low (relative to daily drain flows of grey & black water) and of things go down the drain that are at least as acidic as natural gas or propane condensate.

Do high-efficiency boilers cause acidic water disposal problems?

High-efficiency boilers, furnaces, and water heaters produce acidic water that can pose a disposal problem no matter how you handle it. In the winter of 2014, homeowners in North Carolina reported an upsetting problem: their furnaces were shutting off in the middle of the night on the coldest night of the year.