Water Pipe Grounding and a PEX Repipe: What Newport Beach Homeowners Should Know About Electrical Bonding
In many older homes the metal water pipe is part of the electrical grounding system. What that means, why replacing copper with PEX matters for it, and how grounding…
Most people think of their water pipes and their electrical system as completely separate. In many older homes they are connected. A ground wire from the electrical panel is clamped to the metal water pipe, and the pipe has been part of the home's grounding and bonding for decades. When copper is replaced with PEX, that connection needs attention.
Why water pipe was used for grounding
A metal water service line buried in the ground makes good contact with the earth. For many years it was common to clamp the electrical system's grounding conductor to the water pipe near where it entered the house. Electrical codes also call for metal water piping inside a home to be bonded, meaning connected to the grounding system, so that it cannot become energized if a wire faults against it.
What changes with PEX
PEX is plastic and does not conduct electricity. If the old copper that served as part of the grounding path is removed or isolated, that path may no longer exist. Common situations include:
- The ground clamp was on a section of copper that is being replaced
- The metal service line from the street is being replaced with plastic
- Short sections of metal pipe remain, such as at the water heater, and still need bonding
What should happen during a repipe
Before the old pipe is cut, the grounding connection should be identified. After the repipe, the home's grounding and bonding should be confirmed so it does not depend on pipe that is no longer there. Depending on the house, that can mean a grounding electrode such as a ground rod, a different connection point, or bonding of any remaining metal piping. Electrical work on the grounding system is done by a licensed electrician, and we flag it in our plan so it is handled before the job is closed out.
Signs to mention to us
- A heavy wire clamped to a pipe near the main shutoff or water heater
- Tingling or mild shocks from a faucet, which should be checked by an electrician right away
- A previous partial repipe where metal pipe was cut out
Newport Beach homes and grounding
Many Newport Beach homes in Corona del Mar, Eastbluff, Westcliff, Harbor View and the Balboa Peninsula date from the 1950s through the 1970s and still have original copper or galvanized pipe, often with the electrical ground tied to it. Salt air can also corrode older ground clamps. Water service comes from the City of Newport Beach utility in most areas, with Irvine Ranch Water District serving some neighborhoods. Repipes are permitted and inspected through the City of Newport Beach.
Related reading
Read about Uponor PEX-A, or see whether PEX can be buried in concrete. Neighbors can visit Costa Mesa, Irvine and Laguna Beach, or see every city we serve at repipeinc.com.
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Repipe OC, 23821 Hillhurst Drive, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, (949) 524-2362, CSLB #1087885 C-36.
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Written by Repipe OC · CSLB #1087885 C-36 · 23821 Hillhurst Drive, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 · (949) 524-2362