Dialectic Union

[mtaylor8 (Michael Taylor, TREC 21963)]

I suspect this is a dialectic union but how can I be sure? Is there any kind of marking to indicate?

[mtaylor8 (Michael Taylor, TREC 21963)]

Sorry having trouble getting an image to upload.

[jfrederick (Joshua Frederick)]

Does it look like this?

[mtaylor8 (Michael Taylor, TREC 21963)]

I still cannot get an image to upload even though I switched browsers. The piece I saw was all brass attached to the galvanized nipple at the top of the water heater. It did not look like the normal soldered fitting.

[jfrederick (Joshua Frederick)]

@mtaylor8

I still cannot get an image to upload even though I switched browsers. The piece I saw was all brass attached to the galvanized nipple at the top of the water heater. It did not look like the normal soldered fitting.

If it doesn’t look like or closely resemble the picture I posted, then it probably isn’t. The key “ingredient” is that black piece of plastic or rubber (bushing/washer) that separates the two different metals.

[belliott (Bob Elliott, 450.0002662)]

The best dielectric union is simply a brass connector.

[mtaylor8 (Michael Taylor, TREC 21963)]

I finally got the image to load. See my original post.

[ddagostino (Dominic DAgostino, CMI HI3957)]

There is no union at all in that photo, just a flexible supply line connected to the water inlet’s nipple.

Dom.

[cevans (Chuck Evans, CMI)]

The connector in the photo is not dielectric.

[mtaylor8 (Michael Taylor, TREC 21963)]

Thanks for the feedback. That fitting did not look like any that I have seen or any of the illustrations.

[jfrederick (Joshua Frederick)]

That is a dielectric fitting, technically, and there’s nothing “wrong” with it and/or absolutely no need for a “typical” dielectric union like I posted (unless you have a crazy city inspector that requires the “typical” one like I posted.)

[cevans (Chuck Evans, CMI)]

@jfrederick

That is a dielectric fitting, technically, and there’s nothing “wrong” with it and/or absolutely no need for a “typical” dielectric union like I posted (unless you have a crazy city inspector that requires the “typical” one like I posted.)

I disagree, there is no sleeve visible, and as TREC inspector he had better document it. TREC has a penalty matrix for such lapses. I would document it as “could not confirm…” unless I saw a label or sleeve.

§535.231. Standards of Practice: Minimum Inspection Requirements for Plumbing Systems. (a) Plumbing systems.** The inspector shall:
(1) report:**
(vii) installed mechanical drain stops;
(viii) commodes, fixtures, showers, tubs, and enclosures; and
(ix) the condition of the gas distribution system.
(3) The inspector is not required to:
(A) operate any main, branch, or shut‐off valves;
(B) operate or inspect sump pumps or waste ejector pumps;
(C) verify the performance of:
(i) the bathtub overflow;
(A) location of water meter;
(B) location of homeowners main water supply shutoff valve; and
bibbs;
(ii) clothes washing machine drains or hose
or
(iii) floor drains;
(C) static water pressure; (2) report as Deficient:
(A) the presence of active leaks;
(B) the lack of a pressure reducing valve when the water pressure exceeds 80 PSI;
(C) the lack of an expansion tank at the water heater(s) when a pressure reducing valve is in place at the water supply line/system;
(D) the absence of:
(i) fixture shut‐off valves;
(ii) dielectric unions, when applicable;

I wouldn’t argue that the presence or absence of a dielectric makes any real difference considering that the water within the pipe itself is an electrolyte.

[jfrederick (Joshua Frederick)]

@cevans

I disagree, there is no sleeve visible, and as TREC inspector he had better document it. TREC has a penalty matrix for such lapses. I would document it as “could not confirm…” unless I saw a label or sleeve.

I could see where you say no visible sleeve or label, but it isn’t visible, it’s inside.
http://www.brasscraft.com/pdf/0626_copperflex.pdf

[mlarson (Michael Larson, WI Lic. # 1672-106)]

Those nipples are plastic lined and often shipped with the water heater. And the word is dielectric.

Everbilt Dielectric Nipple Heat Trap-15009 - The Home Depot