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

Quote Originally Posted by 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.