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Need Help Understanding Dielectrics

JHMartin
JHMartin Member Posts: 40
Hi,
I understand that one is supposed to use a dielectric union between dissimilar metals. On my two boilers it goes straight from iron to copper with no visible corrosion. On my hot water tank, it appears to have a dielectric union and is corroded terribly. Disclaimer: I did not install either (see pics).
I could use a primer on dielectrics. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jay


Comments

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,599
    Hi, There is a lot to this, but a simple answer is that oxygen plays a big role in making the corrosion/rusting happen. In the closed boiler system, there is little oxygen. In the open domestic hot water system, there is lots of oxygen. My preferred way to hook up a water heater is to use a plastic lined nipple at the tank and then a corrugated stainless or copper flex connector above that. I only use flexes that have true dielectrics built into the ends. The true dielectrics look like the attached photo, with plastic between the flex line metal and the nut. This approach puts distance between different metals and does not expose any poorly protected steel to the water. I avoid using standard steel dielectric unions as they often cause trouble down the line.

    Yours, Larry
    JHMartinPC7060
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,675
    Hello @JHMartin,
    Either that corroded mess has been leaking for quite some time or maybe the tank has a draft issue and combustion gas spewing out. How does the other pipe look ?

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    PRR
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,214
    edited March 3
    From what I’ve learned, you need at least 4” of brass to stop electrolysis. And I always like unions on my water heater and boiler connections. 
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
    Intplm.
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,599
    Hi, Here's the galvanic scale and a link to one: https://mavink.com/post/07787690C3B228DB8866EDC13829CA3822AM38F38F/galvanic-corrosion-compatibility-chart


    The farther any two metals are from each other on this scale, the more one must corrode to protect the other. There are other factors which affect this. How far the metals are apart physically, and how conductive the electrolyte is both have a huge effect. If you have rain-soft water, the corrosion will be far less than if you have very hard or salty water. That's two cents B)

    Yours, Larry
    JHMartinAlan (California Radiant) Forbes
  • JHMartin
    JHMartin Member Posts: 40
    109A_5 said:

    Hello @JHMartin,
    Either that corroded mess has been leaking for quite some time or maybe the tank has a draft issue and combustion gas spewing out. How does the other pipe look ?

    Hello,
    The other pipe looks fine.
    Jay

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,862
    " If you have rain-soft water, the corrosion will be far less than if you have very hard or salty water"

    True if the water is naturally soft -- if it is ion exchange softened, the corrosion will be worse, not better. And I might add that rain-soft water is also corrosive, just by different mechanisms...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Intplm.
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,952
    that water heater is doing that because it was leaking, probably since it was installed
  • RickDelta
    RickDelta Member Posts: 505
    ....... the cast iron "T" has the blue "gorilla thread tape" on it ......must have been replaced not long ago, hence has not yet rusted?

    Atop the tank ...... just looks like a leaking union issue.
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,599
    Hi @Jamie Hall , agreed! It's hard sometimes to simplify complex things to make them understandable. My experience with softened water is often the "softened" stuff is far more conductive than the hard (or just plain) water being softened. Most people don't live with rain-soft water. San Francisco has some nice water, on average about 60 PPM of TDS. Where I live, it goes from 40 to over 2000. Anyway, water quality varies so much, it's one reason why I like PEX.
    To the rusted dielectric, I see the pipe above the union is very dark. Might there have been a leak higher up that ran down to the dielectric?

    Yours, Larry
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,952
    softened water doesn't remove the minerals from the water, it just replaces them with more soluble minerals so it is still more conductive
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,197
    @JHMartin

    Excellent subject question.

    Hmm. Those pesky dielectric unions. I haven't had much problem with them leaking.
    I think what happens is they are treated and installed like a regular union and tightened way to much like a regular union.

    Wrenching too tightly piercing the insulating material in between and thus, defeating there purpose.

    That being said. I do like the fact as to how brass can often have a better out come.

    I do not fully understand how brass can work so much better.
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,599
    Hi @Intplm. , I might have an answer about why brass dielectrics do better than the steel ones. All I've ever seen with the steel ones is an electro-galvanized coating to protect the steel from the water. This thin zinc coating deteriorates pretty fast, and then the steel can rust... in potable water. Also, with hot water, I've seen rubber gaskets shrink just a bit. When this happens with a steel dielectric, the whole thing ultimately turns into a flow-restricting ball of rust... or maybe I just have really bad water. :D

    Yours, Larry
    JHMartin
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,197

    Hi @Intplm. , I might have an answer about why brass dielectrics do better than the steel ones. All I've ever seen with the steel ones is an electro-galvanized coating to protect the steel from the water. This thin zinc coating deteriorates pretty fast, and then the steel can rust... in potable water. Also, with hot water, I've seen rubber gaskets shrink just a bit. When this happens with a steel dielectric, the whole thing ultimately turns into a flow-restricting ball of rust... or maybe I just have really bad water. :D

    Yours, Larry

    Now that makes perfect sense.

    Thank you @Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten