Ground gas and water pipes

[nate379]

I was just wondering what the idea is behind grounding the water and gas pipes?

The pipes travel to the ground so I am guessing it's to tie the electrical to another ground?

My house has 2 ground rods outside and then a ground clamp on the water and gas lines in the garage too.


I was reading the directions for my water softner and it says to use a ground strap across the 2 pipes going into the unit since the valve system is plastic.

If the well side is already grounded, why would I ground the other side? If the whole system has to be grounded, wouldn't the water in the pipe do anyhow?

What happens to grounding when the lines are all Pex??

 

[nate379]

No one has an idea?

 

[Falcon67]

I would say that grounding the lines on the softener keeps both sides (in / out) at the same potential. As far as Pex - if you have plastic lines, you have no grounding. Plastic is not conductive.

 

[nate379]

The water in the pipe wouldn't ground? Water is a conductor right?

 

[lametec]

Yes, but a pretty lousy one.

My guess for the reason of grounding metal water pipes is so if there's voltage introduced to the pipes, it would go directly to ground, instead of through you, then to ground. Same reason electric appliances with metal cases are grounded.

This isn't an issue with PVC and PEX since they don't conduct electricity.