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Author:
mijclarke (IL)
Does a dielectric union that connects copper pipe to a steel water heater connector prevent electrolysis? I have an 'all metal' 12" connector on the hot side and 'all metal' 24" connector on the cold side with no unions (to quote hj). The heater was made in 05 and it used to have braided connectors until they leaked. Replaced the hot side 1.5 years ago and the cold side 1.5 weeks ago. I'm worried the electrolysis will cause pin hole leaks throughout my copper pipes 
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
Those connectors all use a "rubber" washer to form the seal. They isolate the 2 dissimilar metals, and that is where the corrosion would occur.Even if you used copper to steel at the top of the water heater, it would not affect the rest of the copper in the house. Only at that point.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
NO, NO, NO. You are confused about how electrolysis works. In the first place the flexible connectors ARE dielectric devices, which protects the water heater, at least as much as ANY dielectric device does.
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Author:
mijclarke (IL)
I'm confused. The ones I have appear to be stainless steel and there was another type that looked similar but had a bronze color. The bronze ones said dielectric and I think cost a little more. They may have been a little harder to bend (can't remember). I'm assuming the bronze ones are meant for dielectric connections and are better than the stainless steel ones. Is that correct?
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
you use dielectric connections to isolate the water heater
then
you 'bond' the electrically isolated inlet and outlet piping to restore the electrical path through the piping itself
the term 'ground wire' may be misleading - it is technically a 'bonding bridge wire'
this is assuming you have metallic water piping
this 'bonding wire' is necessary to ensure the piping is CONTINUOUSLY bonded to the electrical system's ground connection for safety reasons as well as code
if in doubt - bond it
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
Edited 2 times.
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