Hot Water Heater Bonding Wire

Most electricians automatically bond the cold water line but do not ensure that the cold and the hot water lines are metallically interconnected through mixing valves in the plumbing fixtures.

Hot water heater bonding wire.

If this bond is not in place it s possible for the hot and cold plumbing to be at different voltage potentials. 10 sol str 2str. The parts cost only about 10 and can be installed in just minutes. So whether or not your local code calls for the bonding wire you may want to install one to get more life out of your water heater.

Because your water heater has dielectric unions so the hot and cold plumbing are isolated from each other. This is frequently done at the service panel. The southwire water heater grounding kit is designed for residential water heater use but can be used across any continuity break in residential plumbing. 10 sol 2 0 str ground wire range.

This bonding is essential to maintain continuous ground path. It typically has two brass clamps with a thick copper wire strung between them. One clamp is placed on the cold water pipe while the other goes on the hot water pipe. A bonding wire is an external part that is attached to the water heater.

Each clamp should be on a smooth part of the pipe and not too close to any fittings. Run the bonding wire from a point near your water heater a convenient spot if you have a gas fueled water heater to an exit point where the wire can be bonded to the grounding wire that leads to the exterior grounding electrodes. Bronze ground clamp for bonding bare copper wire bronze ground clamp for bonding bare copper wire to water pipe or for use as a water meter shunt. The pressure of the clamp may stress soldered joints and valve connections.

In any case if you need a bonding wire it usually consists of a 6 awg bare copper wire connected to a ground clamp on each of the hot and cold water pipes. Kit includes two brass ground clamps and copper conductor. Bonding the plumbing attempts to keep the hot and cold plumbing at the same electrical potential. The bonding wire is usually a heavy copper wire fastened with brass clamps at one end to the cold water pipe and at the other end to the hot water pipe.