My new bathroom tub produces a coppery/orange residue. Looks like hard water? Or, is this an issue of new copper pipes? I never noticed this before our addition. The supply lines are new copper pipes, connected to the old copper.
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Sounds like a chemical reaction which occurs when dissimilar metals come in contact with each other or when electrical current is present.
Just an opinion.
Best guess (something that will produce exactly that symptom): a black iron or galvanized nipple was used in the tub spigot. There's a brass-bodied diverter valve in the wall. The spigot is attached with a nipple, typical about 5", 5.25", or 5.5" long. A brass nipple should be used there. But if Home Depot was out of that size, someone might have thrown in a galvanized one. Of they were dumb and cheap ($1.12 for galv versus $4.25 for brass).
And if you only see it on start up, and don't see it from the shower head, this is definitely the problem.
Fix (it's easy): Razorknife the chalk from between the tile and spigot. Unscrew the spigot (might be hard with the rusting that has happened. Take out the galv nipple. Buy a brass one of that length. Reinstall, put teflon tape on the nipple and chalking the spigot/tile junction.
Fortunately, it is a new problem. After a while, the galv nipple can rust so much as break off during removal. Then it's off to get a pipe extractor bit or call a plumber.
Nice call David Thomas!I can remember the roughed in stubs being galvanized! I will remove ASAP. Sounds like a good weekend project. Thanks.Devil is in the details. Or is that caulk?