rusting screws and gas line staining concrete

[poolbee]

I noticed a ladder screw is rusting terrible and staining the concrete. Also, the gas line that is exposed from house to heater is rusting badly and that has an enamel coating on it. Any ideas on what I can put on the screw to coat it and keep water off it-petroleum jelly maybe? Is it OK to clean off the gas line with naval jelly maybe and repaint it with Rustoleum? The pool is only a month old!

Thanks!

[waste]

Poolbee, I would suggest replacing the ladder bolt and checking the others for signs of the same problem. I would say that something went wrong in the manufacturing process on that bolt as it's rusting. As it's only a month old, it should be under warrantee. To get rid of the rust stain, rub ascorbic acid on it. Sorry, but I don't know anything about the gas line

[markphin]

Before I give you advise on the gas line. A couple of questions.
1. How old is the exposed line.
2. When you say rusted badly. Is it surface rust , or is the metal starting to get pits (small holes) in it.
3. IS the epoxy coating falling off, or still in tact. i.e. is the rust forming at the exposed piping only, like at the fittings?

[Jeffski]

4. Are you using salt in the pool?

[markphin]

I just read your thread again. If the pool/gas line is only a month old, then obviously it is surface rust on the gas line. Simply wire brush clean to the metal and paint with a quality primer, then whatever color you want to match the rest of the pipe.

[poolbee]

We do have a salt pool and I believe my salt is too high. Autopilot is reading 3700, ps234s reads 3200 so I am taking a sample in for testing.
Even using salt though, it is only a month old and the rust is leaving very dark, almost black stains radiating out from under the escutcheon. I would have hoped it would be a long while before anything like this began happening. The gas line is rusting at almost every connection and isn't exposed to salt.

[Sardian]

I'm not sure what type of pipe your gas line is made of but if it is black iron pipe or galvanized iron pipe then it is normal for it to rust at the connections. When this type of pipe is made it is coated with a protective coating (different for black and galvanized) and when the threads are cut into the pipe the coating is cut off. So these areas will show rust pretty quick.

If it bothers you then I would do as another poster has suggested and use a wire brush and clean the areas then spray with primer, then paint. If it is "black" iron pipe (which is the most common for gas pipe) then you may have a hard time getting the paint to stay without first cleaning the pipe with a very good cleaner since the pipe tends to be coated with oil.

About the ladder. My guess is the installer didn't use stainless or galvanized screws. If they didn't then this is most likely why they are rusting so fast.

Russell


We do have a salt pool and I believe my salt is too high. Autopilot is reading 3700, ps234s reads 3200 so I am taking a sample in for testing.
Even using salt though, it is only a month old and the rust is leaving very dark, almost black stains radiating out from under the escutcheon. I would have hoped it would be a long while before anything like this began happening. The gas line is rusting at almost every connection and isn't exposed to salt.

[poolbee]

Just noticed 3 screws in my pool light are rusting. I am suspecting my salt level is too high and getting it checked tomorrow. The pipe is black but I don't know if it is iron or gal. steel.

[poolbee]

I called pool builder yesterday and they actually came out today to look at it! They said they have been having problems with my brand of pool light and rusting screws and will bring out new stainless steel ones on Monday, and clean off all the rust around the light cover(it's white) and the rust on the concrete The pool ladder has washers that are rusting. They are going to replace all the washers on my pool, whether they are rusting now or not, and put a silicone caulk on all the screws to protect them from the water.
They said the gas pipe will rust and there is nothing that can be done about it. They even suggested it may have been rusty before it was put on-huh?
Anyway, I am extremely happy with the response of the builder, if only their pool water testing wasn't suspect(another story!).