I have a two story home located in Michigan. Most – if not all of the faucets in the three bathrooms and in the kitchen are crome. In the basement the bathroom sink, a sink in a small kitchen area and the sink drain apparatus are crome or stainless steel. The faucets/sink drains in the basement show signs of pitting, corission or something like that. The handle on the toilet in the basement almost fell apart because of – not peeling foil – but actual loss of metal structure. (Its an older toilet with real metal handle) This problem only exists in the basement. Any idea why?
The house has a natural gas furnace. The dryer is in the basement and is also natural gas. I have CO detectors throughout the house and they have never sounded an alarm. I do not do any chemical ‘stuff’ in the house or in the garage. I do have any welding equipement. The soap I use is the same both in the basement and in all other bathrooms in the house.
Ideas?
Thanks, Mike
Replies
Most basements are higher in humidity than upstairs, so I suspect the basement plumbing is damp from condensation more of the time than upstairs plumbing.
Probably a combo of old age, high humidity, and cheap fixtures.
It's cooler and more humid in the basement, so condensation forms on metal surfaces, especially things like plumbing fixtures that are cooled by water flow. I doubt that your gas appliances have anything to do with it (unless you vent your dryer into the house), but it could be that acid water is a contributing factor.
Very often the cast metal handles on cheap faucets and the like are made from "pot metal" -- a zinc alloy that readily corrodes, especially when in contact with other metals.