Steps:
- Richard explains a green-stained shower is likely caused by soft water.
- Richard says when the pH level of the water drops below 6.5, the water becomes acidic. That means elements like iron, manganese, lead and sodium could be in the water.
- When the water becomes acidic, it can start to eat away at the copper pipes.
- To illustrate how acidity works, Richard places a copper pipe into a vinegar and sodium solution for 45 minutes. Then lets it sit for another 45 minutes. That quickly you can see a buildup of patina from oxidation.
- That greenish/blue oxidation can build up over time. When water flows through the pipes, it picks up that corrosion and comes out of the showerhead and into the shower itself.
- Richard explains to combat soft water, homeowners could get a calcite acid neutralizer tank. That uses white marble limestone to dissolve into the water and neutralize those extra elements and bring up the pH level of the water.