Frequently Asked Questions about Plumbing

Can you use brass fittings with galvanized pipe?

Galvanized pipe and brass pipe are both used for water piping systems. Sometimes you have to join the two together while doing a repair. For example, you may need to connect a brass barb to your galvanized pipe system, since galvanized barb fittings can be difficult to find.
Also to know is, can you connect galvanized steel to brass?

To safely connect copper and galvanized steel, you have two options. Since brass doesn't react with either the copper or the zinc, one method is to make sure you have a threaded female end on both the copper and the steel pipes, and then connect the two by simply inserting a short threaded brass nipple between them.

Subsequently, question is, are stainless steel and brass fittings compatible? Unless you know the specific types of stainless steel and brass, it should be avoided. This is because only certain types of stainless steel and brass can be used together. In the case of stainless steel (410) and brass, they are seven metals apart, which means they would be likely to corrode if connected directly.

In this regard, do I need a dielectric union for brass to galvanized?

There is some controversy as to the effectiveness of dielectric unions, but the bottom line is that if you connect a copper pipe to a galvanized one, some plumbing inspectors are going to require one. Certain municipalities consider a brass fitting a suitable dialectic union, but others do not.

1.Can you connect copper to galvanized pipe?

The easiest way to connect the copper and galvanized pipes is to use your wrench and unscrew the galvanized piece from the connecting threads. Next, connect copper pipes together until you reach the galvanized pipe threads.

2.Can stainless steel be in contact with galvanized steel?

Under atmospheric conditions of moderate to mild humidity, contact between a galvanized surface and a stainless steel surface is unlikely to cause substantial corrosion. However, if the surfaces are in the presence of salt water or salt water air, it would be best to electrically isolate the two metals.

3.Is Brass compatible with steel?

As the series suggests, steel and aluminum are relatively compatible, but if brass and steel contact, the steel will corrode because it is more anodic than the brass. The aluminum will also corrode where its exposed surface contacts the brass plate because brass is more cathodic.

4.Can you mix galvanized and black pipe?

Black pipe and galvanized pipe are the same material with just one difference: galvanized pipe is coated with zinc to prevent the underlying steel from corroding. Black pipe can be used in lieu of galvanized pipe as long as the piping system isn't for drinking water.

5.Do I need a dielectric union for copper to stainless steel?

When there is any change in pipe material, there should be a dielectric union and a dielectric waterway between the dissimilar metals to minimize or eliminate corrosion. This caused the copper piping branches to go from neutral with copper mains to becoming the anode with the stainless steel water mains.

6.Is Bronze a dielectric?

Galvanized Steel Pipe to Copper Pipe Connections - Use a Dielectric Fitting to Avoid Corrosion. Using a diaelectric fitting or an approved brass fitting to connect these two metals, or more commonly, using plastic or bronze fittings at the joint between these two metals will avoid future corrosion and leaks.