What is Electrolytic Corrosion?

Throughout the last posts we have been learning a lot about how plumbers work with water piping. We have learned about cutting water pipes, soldering pipes, different types of fittings. We have learned about copper piping and steel piping.

Today, we will learn about electrolysis and why this can be such a terrible thing for your house's plumbing.

In a few words, electrolytic corrosion is a process of accelerated corrosion. "In this process, a metallic surface is continuously corroded by other metal it is in contact with, due to an electrolyte and the flow of an electrical current between the two metals."

An example of electrolytic corrosion occurs when you have a copper or brass pipe joined to a galvanized steel pipe or fitting. What will end up happening is a steel side that will have accelerated corrosion.

This results because copper and brass have more positively charged ions that are located in the steel. Thus, with time, the iron in the steel gives up electrons and thus begins to corrode. Now, when electrolytic corrosion occurs, the damage may show up in a couple of years or sometimes in a decade or two.

How can you limit this from happening? What can be done to help with this situation? The solution is to use a dielectric union that connect dissimilar metals. The dielectric union uses a plastic spacer that prevents direct contact between dissimilar metals.

Through the use of dielectric union, you will be able to avoid potential damage in the future as a result of pipe leaks.