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to dielectric or not to dielectric

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hvacfreak
hvacfreak Member Posts: 439
in THE MAIN WALL
I have a job that I'm working on that has a towel warmer made from some steel alloy. The piping is of course copper...do you think I need to isolate it with dielectric nipples or unions ? I'l be connecting to this thing with chrome plated brass material...can I connect to this with copper ? Is it best to keep copper threads " male " ? Thanks in advance- Mike

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  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    is it..

    in a closed system? If so you are probably ok...if you want to be more cautious use a set of brass nipples...kpc

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  • McKern
    McKern Member Posts: 71
    Hopefully a silly question, but...

    Is the water for this coming from a water heater or a boiler?
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177


    HOW ABOUT UNION ELBOWS X SWEAT
  • ScottMP
    ScottMP Member Posts: 5,882
    Not Again ...

    To die-elect or Not to die-elect , as thats is the question.

    Whether it is nobler to suffer the leakage .....

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  • Al Corelli_2
    Al Corelli_2 Member Posts: 395
    Use Brass

    Dielectric unions, in my opinion (based on experience), are the worst things out there. Darn near EVERY one of them I've opened was corroded to the point of massive flow restriction.

    I've seen older plumbers, when required to use them, paint half of a brass union silver. Looked good to me from the basment floor looking up to the ceiling mounted piping. "Never a problem" was what the Dead Man said.

    Of course, I cannot condone such actions, I am only retelling a story. I make money fixing the problems dielectric unions cause.

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    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I agree with Al

    They don't work and 99% will leaks within 2 years... After the final inspection, I yak them useless fittings from the water heater connections and repiped with MALE copper adts to prevent leak and warrenty calls....
  • hvacfreak
    hvacfreak Member Posts: 439


    [quote] repiped with MALE copper adapters [/quote]

    Thats really what I was asking ( I should not have included the word " union " in the original post..was thinking of the dielectric nipples with plastic inserts ).


    I am thinking of using chrome plated brass fittings and nipples to get into the wall cavity and connecting with male adapters. I'm thinking of using Expando on all threaded connections and call it a day.


    Doing this in the wall cavity has me wondering if there is a better way. - Mike
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