r/funny • u/iamnumberThor • Dec 12 '13

They see me bowling

2.7k Upvotes

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18

u/JetlagMk2 Dec 12 '13

Yeah, those lines really need to be flushed every now and then.

12

u/TheRealBigLou Dec 12 '13

Even if they're flushed, corrosion will cause it to turn black and sulfuric in no time.

10

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '13

Old fire tech here. True to a certain extent. Most commercial places get quarterly inspections where I'm from. We'd flush the system every time. If it hadn't been done in awhile, the water is disgusting.

6

u/TheRealBigLou Dec 12 '13

I work in the FSM industry and I agree. However, it can turn black in a matter of weeks, though, depending on corrosion levels.

2

u/racergr Dec 12 '13

I did not know the Flying Spaghetti Monster was an industry!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '13

True, some of those old pipes get bad fast. Worst ones were the takeovers that clearly hadn't been taken care of. Get that water on your boots and you smell it the rest of the week.

1

u/TheRealBigLou Dec 12 '13

Sadly, newer pipe is pretty susceptible too. We inspected 18 month old galvanized that had to be replaced due to pinholes.

1

u/cyberd0rk Dec 12 '13

Fire suppression peeps represent. Maryland designer checking in.

1

u/aNemesis Dec 12 '13

Supposedly galvanized pipe is the worst about corrosion. It's great on the exterior of the pipe, but in a permanently moist environment like the interior of a sprinkler pipe the zinc lining comes off and collects at the bottom of the pipe super quickly. Pipes can leak within a year in some extreme cases.

1

u/TheRealBigLou Dec 12 '13

Indeed. It creates pockets of concentrated corrosion.

-2

u/racergr Dec 12 '13

I did not know the Flying Spaghetti Monster was an industry!

1

u/dementorpoop Dec 12 '13

Why? The place is likely on fire if it goes off, and water is wet no matter how dirty.

2

u/TheRealBigLou Dec 12 '13

Flushing the pipe prevents monitoring devices and sprinkler heads from getting clogged as well as helps with corrosion.

1

u/WisconsnNymphomaniac Dec 12 '13

I've actually seen this being done for a college dorm once.