ABS joint turned from yellow to white

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Kiton

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I had a kitchen counter installer in about a year ago to install new kitchen cupboards. They sent a "plumber" to do the sink install, he used ABS over PVC.

One of the joints has turned from yellow to white.

I assume this will need to be cut out and replaced?
What causes the ABS cement to turn from yellow to white?

Thanks,
 

Kiton

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It is just the joint I am referring to.
The thin yellow line of the glue or cement that can be seen around the joint under the sink has turned from yellow to white.
 

Terry

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In Canada, they use a yellow glue for ABS.
I would guess that you're fine. Every TV show I've seen from Canada uses that glue.
 

Kiton

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The jointed started out yellow, over time it has turned white, but only those 2 joints, all the rest of the pipe work is still has bright yellow lines where the cement sealed the joints.

I cut out the 45 and replaced it tonight.

But I am curious why it would change color like that, it was not exposed to sunlight or high heat etc.
 

Kiton

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And if you joint changes color are you going to redo it again. There was probably NOTHING wrong with the joint regardless of its color.

I have never seen one change color, I have asked around and no one else has seen one go white either.
I tried to take a cell phone pix of the joint, but it is really crap with a close up detail picture. There looks to be a bunch of small cracks in those joints that can not be seen in any other joints. That was the motivation to cut it out.

I have attached a picture of a good joint. They are a nice bright yellow. I did not realize the fusing cement was a different color in the USA.

My neighbor is a master plumber, with the big trade union here. He does new installs only on high rises and large condo projects. I hate asking advice because every time the poor guy goes outside to cut the grass or shovel snow, someone is asking him for advice. I sucked it up and asked him about it, he had 2 things to say:

1) Don't use ABS anymore, use PVC

2) More than likely the joint was moved or manipulated before the cure process was finished.

Tonight I glued a scrap joint together, just to see.
I tried to pull it 2/3 apart and then re position it, after it was in place for only a little bit. Sure enough, the soup of the pipe fusing together was white. I will assume my neighbor is right and the pipe was twisted during the curing process.
 

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