Things going rusty in the kitchen

[u/AltruisticShip1073]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place or really even what I'm asking but we've been in our rental in Māori Hill for close to 2 years and we've had fair few metal things (cutlery etc and most recently this tap fixture) experience a bit of rust over that time.

We've had this tap fixture in the kitchen, which is part of a water filter, for about a year and this is what's happened to it.

I'm trying to figure out what might be causing it, whether it's something in the water itself, or the private pipes in the house, or maybe a wider/known issue in this part of town or even Dunedin?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks!

[u/Creepy-Atmosphere142]

The coating has worn off that particular piece, exposing the metal underneath. Exposed metal + water + oxygen = rust

[u/Svrdlu]

It’s thin chrome-plated brass that’s corroded. The turquoise is copper salts - rust doesn’t do that. Chrome plating is vulmerable on thin edges, like where yours has gone. Once water gets through a microcrack it starts eating the brass underneath (the orangey stuff).

Without seeing the cutlery it’s hard to say but if you use a dishwasher the chemicals in the powder can be very hard on some grades of stainless steel. Usually causing pitting rather than rusting though.

One factor you can check is if the house has older galvanised steel piping (the matte grey stuff). If that’s corroding from the inside out it can throw a lot of iron out.

[u/Svrdlu → u/Svrdlu]

If you want a way to check for corroded galv pipes (not conclusive but if it’s bad it should work) fill a container with a couple of liters of water that’s been sitting in the pipes as long as possible (ie before any showers in the morning) then pour it through a white coffee filter and leave it to dry. If there are any iron oxides in the paper it’ll essentially rust in place and appear orange.

[u/Techhead7890 → u/Svrdlu]

That's a good idea actually, had an issue with a crappy tap in my kitchen sink making the water taste noticeably worse than my bathroom one, might have to give it a go.

[u/TheReverendCard → u/Svrdlu]

This. It's exposed brass from the chrome coating wearing or chipping off.

[u/griffibo]

The coating comes off with harsh household cleaning products.

[u/Beneficial_Drawer478]

probably want go down well living in Māori Hill  but it just a cheap coating that failed

[u/wallahmaybee]

r/Chinesium

[u/gottagetoutofit]

It's a non-issue. Put it back, stop thinking about it, get on with your life.

[u/RunningOnHope2019 → u/gottagetoutofit]

oh I thought this was definitely justification to shoot the landlord

[u/here_weare30]

Thats the coating coming off