Blue gunk in gas pipe?

[Resolute]

Morning guys,

Last night I got a call out to exchange a gas meter (pre pay with a failed battery). The tenant had only just moved into the property and everything was switched off. I did a quick visual of the boiler (only appliance) which was turned off and on lock out. There was zero pressure and the filling loop had been boxed in!

I proceeded to exchange the meter, quick check with volt stick and everything was fine, meter off and then I proceeded to remove the old regulator, as I did this I felt a tingling in my arm as it touched the outlet, checked again with my volt stick and this time it showed live. Contacted an electrician who came and checked it out and said it was all fine?!

Also, when I removed the meter there was a sealing disc in the outlet, no warning or anything and no obvious reason why but possibly because the meter wasnt working the engineer was unable to issue a cert for the boiler. However when I took the disc out the pipe was full of a blue gunk! I've never come across this before and wondered if you guys had any idea as to what it might be?

As the boiler etc was under contract with Mears I was unable to carry out any further work or investigation so when I put the new meter in I replaced the sealing disc until a Mears engineer could sort the boiler (one was already on their way).

Sorry for such a long post, just wondered what the blue stuff could be and why the gas pipe maybe picking up live electrical current intermittently for no apparent reason?

Cheers guys,
Pete.

 

[AWheating]

the earth fault could be from a neighbouring property or a fault on mains supply and it should be reported to Elec supplier so they can check out the problem and fix any issues. Did you use you continuity bondings?

 

[stani]

Pete,Was the pipework earthed correctly, if not you could be getting some feedback further down the line from a faulty appliance, also volt stick, I think, only shows voltage above about 50 volts so its not an accurate test tool, it just gives an idea, you should follow a safe isolation and testing practise, such as issued by the Niceic. Especially if you have no history of the property, also could the blue be copper sulphate from the copper pipework.
Steve

 

[AWheating]

safe isolation would not always be safe, if the pipework is at the same voltage as other conductors then it wont show up on your voltage indicator. You also cant test between all conductors if your not near them. A good voltage stick that measures 50v or lower would show a voltage tho.

 

[stani]

Just checked and most volt sticks work from 90 volts upwards.

 

[Resolute]

Not sure what my volt stick operates at so will check that. The pipe was earthed and the electrician said it all checked out OK. It was on the customers pipe work I was picking it up on.

The blue was like a really thick sludge, quite a bit off it too - and bright in colour.

Flat was a bit of a nightmare, the landlord had obviously done a very rushed job at decorating as the kitchen had been tiled and the filling loop etc for the boiler was boxed in and tiled. There was also a leak in the bathroom ceiling near to the extractor fan - I isolated the fan and advised the tenant to get onto the landlord for a plumber to investigate.

 

[Resolute]

Oh, and I did put continuity bonds on. They were off whilst I was removing the reg as they were I. The way but after I picked up some stray voltage I made sure they were back on and stayed on until I had the new meter in!

 

[AWheating]

Just checked and most volt sticks work from 90 volts upwards.

would still work better than a voltage indicator in certain situations tho, as when there is no voltage difference there is still a magnetic field. You can get them that work under touch voltage but your right most dont. Probably still the best way to check at a gas meter thats remote from any eletrics.

 

[AWheating]

Not sure what my volt stick operates at so will check that. The pipe was earthed and the electrician said it all checked out OK. It was on the customers pipe work I was picking it up on.

The blue was like a really thick sludge, quite a bit off it too - and bright in colour.

Flat was a bit of a nightmare, the landlord had obviously done a very rushed job at decorating as the kitchen had been tiled and the filling loop etc for the boiler was boxed in and tiled. There was also a leak in the bathroom ceiling near to the extractor fan - I isolated the fan and advised the tenant to get onto the landlord for a plumber to investigate.

even on the customers side it could be a fault outside as all the earth are connect at the main earth terminal.

god knows what the blue gunk was, probably something that got onto the pipework during construction work?

 

[Resolute]

I've a Testmate, detects from 90v - can pick up on static though!

 

[AWheating]

Buy Volt Stick Instant Voltage Tester, 50-1000V - LV50

the original volt stick (brand name) range has some that test 50v

 

[AWheating]

Buy Newlec Power Detector, 1.5V AAA, 50V - 600V - NLPDN

this ones cheaper

 

[Resolute]

Any ideas what the blue gunk may have been?

 

[Gmaservices]

I've seen lumps of laco flux in pipes before, possibly that?

 

[dave1]

Flux?

 

[acecharly]

sounds like copper sulphate from the flux im sure at school in chemistry once we had some and heated it up and it turns white if you then put a drop of water on it it will turn back to blue as it rehydrates just incase you ever get bored and have nothing else to do.

 

[Resolute]

Cheers. There was s lot of it and not seen so much carp in a gas pipe before!

 

[REDSAW]

horsham spring water perhaps.

i know peckham spring water is yellow!

 

[acecharly]

Gas pipe, water pipe, if its copper and its been soldered and theres flux inside id say its got to be that, if you think about it you dont flush a gas pipe out after you install it so anything left over will be in there. You need to get it out though because it will reduce the flow of gas to any appliances its probably a good idea to check working pressure to any appliances after aswell just to be sure.

 

[REDSAW]

seems like a new re pipe for some lucky bugger

 

[migoplumber]

volt sticks are only indicators remember ! never trust them too much. i'd always check with a voltmeter after using the volt stick.
why would you trust something that when you rub it on your arm it tells you, that your live !

blue stuff i'd go for the laco flux as mentioned above.

 

[mountainman]

I left my volt stick in my strides the other day, SWMBO dutifully washed them.
Now evidently Everything is live according to the stick.

 

[Resolute]

Good point on the volt sticks.

I did think that the gunk maybe flux but that's normally more green, although I've no idea how long it'd been in there for.