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rodlee · Mar 26, 2009, 04:50 PM

A hot water heater has gav. Nibbles how long will a copper fitting last hook to is and how long will a dielectric union last how long have the dielectric union been out or made?

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 26, 2009, 04:59 PM

Depends on a lot of things. Truth be told, a galv to copper fitting will most likely last longer than your water heater ever will. I have replaced 35 year old water heaters that had no dialectric unions, and the pipe fitting was still in great shape. The nice thing about dialectrics, is it gives you not only security of separation of dissimual metals, but it also give you a breakable union for repair or replacement of water heater.(even though, by the time your water heater goes bad, you can bet that the height of new water heater will have changed, so you will have to cut the dialectric out and start over again anyway.) Please let me know if this helps.

sarnian · Mar 26, 2009, 05:00 PM

Hello rodlee

I thought that the dielectric union was specially made to prevent deterioration and material loss when coupling different metals together.

Note : updated Link to data on dielectric union specifications

rodlee · Mar 26, 2009, 05:38 PM

Will I put in a 50 gl. Water heater nine year ago for a man and is started to leak and now he say is my falut and trying to sue me at that time I use 3/4 copper with a rubber gastet and copper unions. Nine years ago I never hear of dielectric nibble. That why I ask if anyone knew how long they been made

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 26, 2009, 05:58 PM

I believe this would be a warranty issue. The warranty is most likely up on the water heater. I really don't think he has a leg to stand on with his lawsuit. This sounds like an trying to get something for free, and probably more, like water damage etc. All I can say, is you best look in your code book and see if you installed this water heater to code. And in the end(once it comes to this point) the man with the better lawyer wins. Hard to believe that someone would sue for a water heater leak, it will cost both of you more money than its worth. By the time the trials over, he could have purchased 5 water heaters.

Fact is, whether you use dialectrics or not, a water heater will eventually leak.

letmetellu · Mar 26, 2009, 07:23 PM

You ask how long dialectric unions have been made, I know that they have been made since the 1940's.

iamgrowler · Mar 27, 2009, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by mygirlsdad77

I believe this would be a warranty issue. the warranty is most likely up on the water heater. I really dont think he has a leg to stand on with his lawsuit. This sounds like an trying to get something for free, and probably more, like water damage etc. All i can say, is you best look in your code book and see if you installed this water heater to code. And in the end(once it comes to this point) the man with the better lawyer wins. Hard to believe that someone would sue for a water heater leak, it will cost both of you more money than its worth. By the time the trials over, he could have purchased 5 water heaters.

Fact is, whether you use dialectrics or not, a water heater will eventually leak.

I see lawsuits like this all the time and they most always deal with the issue of code compliance.

All of the adopted Plumbing Codes in the US (IPC, SPC, UPC etc.. . ) specifically address the issue of joining dissimilar metals.

If the installation went against the prevailing code, then the installers usual one year warranty is voided and the lawsuit is allowed to go forward -- Usually pursued on the behalf of the homeowner by the homeowners insurance company.

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 27, 2009, 02:05 PM

Growler, very good answer. I now agree. There is a reason we are required to study for years and test in the end, mostly on code. Had the installer known the code, he would have known about dielectrics. Take care all, and good luck rodlee. I hate to see a nine year old job come back and bite someone, so I am rooting for you.