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Rusting Stainless Steel

Hello, My name is Jake and I own a small decorative metal shop in Nebraska. About two years ago I installed a stainless steel wall fountain made out of 7 ga 304 stainless and brushed 16 ga 304 stainless. I recently went back to look at it and there is rust forming on the 7 ga structure around drip marks. The sheet metal(which is constantly covered with water) is fine. The clients have used stainless steel cleaners to wipe the rust off, but it returns within a month or so. They have been having problems keeping the water clean and have tried all sorts of chemicals to remove mold and such from the water. Can this cause the stainless steel to rust? Or can anyone offer any insight as to how/why this rust might be forming and how to stop it? Any help would be grateful. Thanks.

Jake Balcom
custom metal work - Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
2007

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Sounds like high iron in the water. Are there also rusty spots on porcelain fixtures?

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2007

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It could be due to chloride which becomes more concentrated as water evaporates from the drops. Put a test panel of the more resistant 316 or 316L in the affected area.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2007

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If they ever added bleach to the water it would be a bad thing - bleach will do a number on stainless.

Check letters 23571 and 25362 - they might help you out a bit.

Good luck.

Jim Gorsich
Compton, California, USA
2007