Continuity of Electrial Bonding---shock hazards!

     As previously discussed in the blog:  Plumbers aren't Electricians, I mentioned that the continuity of the metal piping systems in the home is important and that replacement of sections of the pipe with plastic can result in loss of continuity.  Examples of ways that continuity can be broken are:  installation of di-electric unions, replacement of sections of the metal pipe with plastic, in-line water filters etc.  Di-electric unions are used to connect pipes of dissimilar metals to prevent corrosion due to electrolysis.

     In this first picture we see where there has been a jumper installed across the section of non-conductive tubing.  The type of tubing is inappropriate as a drain material (subject of future blog) but at least the continuity of the piping is maintained.

     In this next picture we see an in-line water filter that is made of plastic.  To maintain the continuity of the pipe a jumper has been installed around the plastic filter.  The jumper also maintains continuity if the filter is removed for any reason.

     In this next picture we see where the bonding wire has been run to the water heater connecting the cold water side of the water supply to the hot water supply side.  In this example the installation is wrong because the installation is on the water heater side of the flexible disconnects.  These flexible disconnects have little plastic bushings/gaskets that break the continuity of the piping where it attaches.  This installation essentially leaves all of the hot and cold water pipes in the home un-bonded---a serious potential shock hazard.  By installing the bonding on the "house-side" of the flexible disconnects all of the supply plumbing remains bonded even if the water heater is removed.

Charles Buell

www.buellinspections.com