# Blackened copper pipes **URL:** \ **Category:** Plumbing Inspections\ **Created:** [June 30, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/blackened-copper-pipes/117252 "2017-06-30T01:09:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tfarmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/tfarmer/32/1935_2.png) [@tfarmer](https://forum.nachi.org/u/tfarmer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/blackened-copper-pipes/117252/1 "2017-06-30T01:09:36Z")
Is anybody familiar with why copper pipes are solid black ![IMG_2711.JPG](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/4/b/4b6c939d1db6ccd48122607d860899f8752a5c16.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![rcooke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rcooke/32/57038_2.png) [@rcooke](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rcooke)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/blackened-copper-pipes/117252/2 "2017-06-30T01:39:03Z")
Try here . Black copper cold water lines- InterNACHI Inspection Forum]([https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi3mJ-ht-TUAhXSDj4KHSYTCAoQFggiMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nachi.org%2Fforum%2Ff22%2Fblack-copper-cold-water-lines-2837%2F&usg=AFQjCNEqaKadr5kMLFO9gJfQRMx134y9WQ](https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi3mJ-ht-TUAhXSDj4KHSYTCAoQFggiMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nachi.org%2Fforum%2Ff22%2Fblack-copper-cold-water-lines-2837%2F&usg=AFQjCNEqaKadr5kMLFO9gJfQRMx134y9WQ)) _[https://www.nachi.org](https://www.nachi.org)]([https://www.nachi.org/](https://www.nachi.org/)) › …› Specific Inspection Topics › Plumbing Inspections_ - Cached]([https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:kOHOj4pamnUJ:https://www.nachi.org/forum/f22/black-copper-cold-water-lines-2837/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca](https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:kOHOj4pamnUJ:https://www.nachi.org/forum/f22/black-copper-cold-water-lines-2837/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca)) - [FONT=“Arial”][Similar](https://www.google.ca/search?biw=1536&bih=698&site=webhp&q=related:https://www.nachi.org/forum/f22/black-copper-cold-water-lines-2837/+Blackened+copper+pipes&tbo=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3mJ-ht-TUAhXSDj4KHSYTCAoQHwgnMAA)[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]Mar 19, 2006 - 15 posts - ‎6 authors[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]Only once before have I seen copper turn **black** to thisextent. … The chemical reaction between the two metals eat a way the **copperpipe**.[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”] **Black** film on **copper** wiringin main panel]([https://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/black-film-copper-wiring-main-panel-75479/](https://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/black-film-copper-wiring-main-panel-75479/))[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]15 posts[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]5 Oct 2012[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”] **Blackened copper** wire and **pipes** ]([https://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/blackened-copper-wire-and-pipes-61707/](https://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/blackened-copper-wire-and-pipes-61707/))[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]5 posts[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]17 Jun 2011[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”] **Black Copper Pipes** ]([https://www.nachi.org/forum/f22/black-copper-pipes-58011/](https://www.nachi.org/forum/f22/black-copper-pipes-58011/))[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]4 posts[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]10 Feb 2011[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”] **black copper pipes** ]([https://www.nachi.org/forum/f22/black-copper-pipes-53376/](https://www.nachi.org/forum/f22/black-copper-pipes-53376/))[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]7 posts[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]26 Aug 2010[/FONT] [FONT=“Arial”]More results [fromwww.nachi.org](http://fromwww.nachi.org)]([https://www.google.ca/search?q=Blackened+copper+pipes+site:www.nachi.org&biw=1536&bih=698&site=webhp&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3mJ-ht-TUAhXSDj4KHSYTCAoQrQIILigEMAA](https://www.google.ca/search?q=Blackened+copper+pipes+site:www.nachi.org&biw=1536&bih=698&site=webhp&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3mJ-ht-TUAhXSDj4KHSYTCAoQrQIILigEMAA))[/FONT] ---
**Author:** ![tfarmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/tfarmer/32/1935_2.png) [@tfarmer](https://forum.nachi.org/u/tfarmer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/blackened-copper-pipes/117252/3 "2017-06-30T02:41:33Z")
thanks Roy ---
**Author:** ![eschmidt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/eschmidt/32/89375_2.png) [@eschmidt](https://forum.nachi.org/u/eschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/blackened-copper-pipes/117252/4 "2017-06-30T15:10:48Z")
If the cold lines are black and hot lines are not so black condensation has been one of the factors. Very common where I am, and nothing to get excited about, there has been no chinese drywall or any of that where I am, but I am in oil country, lots of oil and gas wells, refineries and gas plants all around, so I am thinking that is also a factor. I take it more as an indication that they need to do something about excess humidity in the basement in summer than any problems with the water lines. ---
**Author:** ![ltrapp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ltrapp/32/210801_2.png) [@ltrapp](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ltrapp)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2021, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/blackened-copper-pipes/117252/5 "2021-05-15T11:20:19Z")
There are a lot of knowledgeable folks on this forum and I would ask them if the presense of radon gas may turn the copper black? There is also a gas processing plant within 2 miles of my house and the escaping gas may be the culprit. Looking for input on this one. The house is 20 years old. All copper plumbing, water softener.