Metallic Rod Behind Pressure Tank?
#1
05-13-19, 03:14 PM
Metallic Rod Behind Pressure Tank?
Hey all,
I moved into a home and was working on fixing/cleaning the area behind my pressure tank. I noticed that there was a metallic rod, that was bendable, with a loose clamp. I'm unsure what this is or what it would be used for. It wasn't attached to anything but seemed to sit near the hole where the black poly pipe comes out for my main water line.
I've attached a picture. The pressure tank was removed and the rod in question is closest to the wall. (The white wire is for my pressure tank and the grey wire is from the well pump) Any ideas on what the rod is or was used for? Maybe a ground of some sort? I ended up getting rid of it and now I'm second guessing that decision.
I moved into a home and was working on fixing/cleaning the area behind my pressure tank. I noticed that there was a metallic rod, that was bendable, with a loose clamp. I'm unsure what this is or what it would be used for. It wasn't attached to anything but seemed to sit near the hole where the black poly pipe comes out for my main water line.
I've attached a picture. The pressure tank was removed and the rod in question is closest to the wall. (The white wire is for my pressure tank and the grey wire is from the well pump) Any ideas on what the rod is or was used for? Maybe a ground of some sort? I ended up getting rid of it and now I'm second guessing that decision.
Last edited by PJmax; 05-15-19 at 05:14 PM. Reason: resized picture
#2
05-13-19, 03:17 PM
Group Moderator
That looks to be #6 or #4 single conductor electrical type wiring and was probably bonding for the service. At one time there may have been a metal water line or metal house piping. It doesn't look like anything to connect it to there anymore.
#3
05-13-19, 06:19 PM
Thanks PJ. I have the poly pipe coming into the pressure tank and then pvc from the tank, through the acid neutralizer and just above. However, most everything else in my house is copper.
My copper lines are bonded in the same room as the tank/neutralizer. Is it safe to say that I don't need anything near the main water line and acid neutralizer since it's not copper? The original owner did a lot of the work himself so I want to make sure we're safe in case an electrical line becomes loose and touches the pipe or a lightning strike.
Here's a pic of the bonded copper lines.
My copper lines are bonded in the same room as the tank/neutralizer. Is it safe to say that I don't need anything near the main water line and acid neutralizer since it's not copper? The original owner did a lot of the work himself so I want to make sure we're safe in case an electrical line becomes loose and touches the pipe or a lightning strike.
Here's a pic of the bonded copper lines.
Last edited by PJmax; 05-15-19 at 05:15 PM. Reason: resized picture
#4
05-13-19, 06:25 PM
Group Moderator
That is a bond or a jumper that looks like it goes around a water heater.
Does that wire in the other picture go to the electrical panel ?
Does that wire in the other picture go to the electrical panel ?
#5
05-14-19, 06:56 AM
I believe you're right about the bond/jumper going to the water heat. I can't see the line, on the left, connect with the heater due to the drywall in the ceiling. The pic is of the remove drop ceiling and the line on the right comes from the main supply.
In the first picture, the white wire goes to the electrical box. The metallic line was just tucked behind the drop ceiling in the corner next to the white wire. However, I went to check this morning (was away at work all last night) and the metal is still there! (Thought I tossed it out) I scrunched it down behind the pressure tank. It is held next to the poly pipe and not moveable.
The picture is the best shot I could get behind the pressure tank. The metal seems to be firmly planted somewhere beneath the poly pipe.
Maybe the buried line is copper and the last resident used the poly pipe to fix a leak above ground? There was definitely water damage around that area. I also think they added the acid neutralizer and pressure tank themselves as well.
If all the lines had all been originally copper, house was built in 1984, was that metal rod there to act as a ground or bond/jumper from the buried copper to the house? My electrical box is another 40 feet away from that area on the Alpha/Delta corner of the house. The pressure tank and well are on the Charlie side.
In the first picture, the white wire goes to the electrical box. The metallic line was just tucked behind the drop ceiling in the corner next to the white wire. However, I went to check this morning (was away at work all last night) and the metal is still there! (Thought I tossed it out) I scrunched it down behind the pressure tank. It is held next to the poly pipe and not moveable.
The picture is the best shot I could get behind the pressure tank. The metal seems to be firmly planted somewhere beneath the poly pipe.
Maybe the buried line is copper and the last resident used the poly pipe to fix a leak above ground? There was definitely water damage around that area. I also think they added the acid neutralizer and pressure tank themselves as well.
If all the lines had all been originally copper, house was built in 1984, was that metal rod there to act as a ground or bond/jumper from the buried copper to the house? My electrical box is another 40 feet away from that area on the Alpha/Delta corner of the house. The pressure tank and well are on the Charlie side.
Last edited by PJmax; 05-15-19 at 05:15 PM. Reason: resized picture
#6
05-15-19, 11:35 AM
As Pete was saying, you definitely want your electrical panel bonded to your interior copper piping. It probably was at that point, but as you mentioned, a lot of the copper pipe was probably removed and replaced with plastic. Which is fine - but you still want the bonding wire connected from your panel to the copper pipe.
My guess is that the prior owner disconnected it and never re-connected it. As long as it reaches the copper pipe, you should reconnect it securely.
This bonding helps ensure if there's an electrical short to a metal plumbing fixture or pipe, the circuit breaker will quickly trip and not cause a live plumbing system!
My guess is that the prior owner disconnected it and never re-connected it. As long as it reaches the copper pipe, you should reconnect it securely.
This bonding helps ensure if there's an electrical short to a metal plumbing fixture or pipe, the circuit breaker will quickly trip and not cause a live plumbing system!
