How do I clean the inside of copper pipe?

kebabman · Post by **kebabman** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:01 am

I have some copper pipe that was removed from my loft when we converted to a combi boiler. I was thinking of reusing it but it looks a bit green inside. Should I try to reuse it and if so what chemical would be best to clean it with. I have a pump so I could recirculate round.
Cheers

Shadowknight · Post by **Shadowknight** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:50 am

I think the green stuff is copper oxide, pretty much the copper version of rust.

Any chemical bods on here? Would using acid to etch a layer away work? Not sure I would want to use it anywhere near beer, before or after though.

Post by **Aleman** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:06 pm

Anything acid based to be honest will dissolve the oxide . . . and the copper as well.

Phosphoric is probably one of the easiest to get (and as one of the stronger acids the nicest to use) Wear gloves and eye protection.

Rinse well and follow it with a caustic wash . . . and rinse again

boingy · Post by **boingy** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:11 pm

I'd dump that pipe and buy some new stuff...

Garth · Post by **Garth** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:18 pm

boingy wrote:I'd dump that pipe and buy some new stuff...

too right, all that hassle for the sake of Â£8 for a 2m length or a tenner for 3m. Probably less if you shop about.

kebabman · Post by **kebabman** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:28 pm

Many thanks for the replies guys, yes it does seem a bit penny pinching but I am considering having a fair bit of fixed in place pipework as well as hose and copper prices have gone through the roof.
Also I was wondering that even if I did buy some new pipe what state it would be in after a brew and then left for a few weeks in between brews. Will it start going green inside again anyway? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding leaving the pipework in between brews?
Many thanks

Garth · Post by **Garth** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:39 pm

after a brew, rinse the whole system with water, then send some kind of cleaner round, and circulate for 10 - 15 mins.

then leave the whole system full of peracetic solution between brews. This is what I did in the brewery.

If I were taking the time to build a fixed system, I wouldn't risk building it with old, dirty pipe.

kebabman · Post by **kebabman** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:43 pm

New pipe it is then, thanks for the advice regarding leaving the pipework
Cheers

Post by **Aleman** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:56 pm

Garth wrote: leave the whole system full of peracetic solution between brews. This is what I did in the brewery

Peracetic + Copper =

The copper catalyses the reaction between hydrogen peroxide breaking down to water and O2 . . . and you end up with a really nasty green/white sludge (Probably copper acetate) deposited in the pipes. . . . I discovered this when recirculating peracetic through my CFC . . . Then I looked at the MDS sheet supplied by Murphys which said copper (and zinc) is a bad idea with peracetic. . . Stainless no issue

I was only using a 1:100 dilution of 5% as well

Garth · Post by **Garth** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:11 pm

well, use some kind of sanitizer that copper likes and leave it in the pipe.

Post by **Aleman** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:15 pm

Once properly cleaned . . . Boiling water does a pretty good job when left behind, and 'sealed' in

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How do I clean the inside of copper pipe?

How do I clean the inside of copper pipe?

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Re: How do I clean the inside of copper pipe?

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Re: How do I clean the inside of copper pipe?

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