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Electrical

Wiring An Electric Hot Water Tank

When replacing an electric hot water tank it is important that the flexible metal conduit that runs from the electric hot water heater disconnect box does not touch any of the incoming or outgoing copper water pipes, as shown in Figure 1.

When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another you will have galvanic corrosion. In this case it is the copper water pipe that will corrode and eventually leak.

If the flexible metal conduit does not want to stay away from touching the copper pipe, wrap the conduit and/or the copper water pipe with electrical tape at the point where it wants to touch. This will prevent the galvanic corrosion from taking place.

flexible metal conduit touching copper water pipe

Figure 1 - Flexible metal conduit touching copper water pipe

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