What is a Dielectric Union?
What is a Dielectric Union?
Dissimilar Metals in Plumbing
Galvanic Corrosion
There’s a lot of plumbing around the house that normally different pipes to tap into each other; to set up a bar sink, for example, or possibly to include an additional outlet hose bib, even water heater connections fall into this category. Plumbing work frequently requires connecting one piece of metal into another. This is made possible with using the proper types of joints and unions. Understanding the correct parts and how to use them can really make the difference. When two different metals come in contact with each other, an electrolytic reaction begins, where water serves as the electrolyte. As a result the metals start to corrode. This unique process is called galvanic corrosion.
To stop this from occurring, a unique adapter is utilized to separate the two metals by using an elastomeric rubber gasket in between the dissimilar metals. This special fitting is called a dielectric union. When connecting copper pipe to galvanized iron pipeline for example, a dielectric union is installed to hold the 2 different metal pipelines together. However, there’s yet another alternative to a dielectric union– a brass nipple or a brass fitting which likewise certifies as a copper alloy fitting and complies by building codes too. So should you utilize a dielectric union or a brass fitting to link two different metal pipelines? Let’s see how they differ in their properties and performance.