2mo ago

Element in water heater died; less than two months old.

I changed out both elements in my electrc water back in late August. Had to change the bottom one out again today.

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Have you checked your sacrificial anode? If it’s gone, this will keep happening.
- Anodes protect against corrosion. They don't do anything for hard water scale.
  
  That's not entirely true: sacrificial anodes attract and collect calcium and magnesium as well as preventing rust.
  
  The prevention of rust does slow scale accumulation because rust is a rough porous surface that scale likes to stick to. But other than that (anodes also are rough porous surfaces) I'm not aware of any way they actively reduce it. Maybe the electronic ones, but that's out of my wheelhouse (and they aren't sacrificial).
- I have never heard of this before. Thanks for mentioning it.
  
  The sacrificial anode is there to protect the steel tank. It lasts a long time. This is a hard water problem as everyone else is saying, and a water softener would solve the issue.
  *Edit: check the very bottom of your tank since you have the elements out. It most likely has a pile of calcium and other minerals sitting on the bottom.
  -a plumber
  
  Steel tank, not copper?
  
  Steel tanks, that's why the sacrificial anode is there so the water eats it away instead of the tank.
  
  In NA, steel is standard. I've never seen a copper hotwater tank in Canada. I think that used to be somewhat common in Europe, but copper is freakin' expensive now so that's gone by the wayside, as well.
- Anodes for the anode gods!
  
  Rust for the Rust King!
- Was hoping someone remembered what that thing was called
  
  that is a high fantasy wizard ass sounding name for a plumbing part
  
  "Sire, the Sacrificial Anode...has failed."
  "SOUND THE ALARMS!"

87 comments