What would cause melted element in EHWT

[speeder]

I have had 3 melted electric element in a 6 year old electric hot water tank in the last 5 months.

Problem started when I flushed the hot water tank 5 months ago. Problems started right away. Tripped breaker then no hot water... Element melted. Happened again 2 months later .. Then just happened again.

It's a 40 gallon tank with 2 3000W elements running non simultaneous.

Any thoughts or time for a new tank?

 

[Phog]

Have both the upper & lower elements blown? Or is it the same element melting every time?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[speeder]

Have both the upper & lower elements blown? Or is it the same element melting every time?

Yes. Both is blown this time for sure. I can't recall last few times if only upper or both.

 

[speeder]

When I looked in through the element hole, the anode was basically gone at the bottom but the top was still there but pimply all over.

Possible to just change the anode?

 

[Phog]

The anode just slows down the tank corrosion rate. It doesn't have anything to do with the electrical componentry, and won't fix this issue. I don't know why your elements are blowing, I'm sorry.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

Them look to be cheap ass 10 dollar elements.... this might be the whole problem....
If you have just a common water heater with a 220volt breaker I suggest you buy
the more heavy duty Stainless Steel elements and see what they do.....

 

[hj]

Those are the cheapest, and least reliable, elements made. Either buy "low watt density" elements or "lifetime" ones.

 

[speeder]

Ah ok. Thanks for the advice I will look for those. If you can provide any links to good ones, will be much appreciated.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

Ah ok. Thanks for the advice I will look for those. If you can provide any links to good ones, will be much appreciated.

They have them at LOWES for about 20 bucks each....

 

[speeder]

They have them at LOWES for about 20 bucks each....

Is it just the ones that are longer and bent back onto itself? Are copper ones better?

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

Is it just the ones that are longer and bent back onto itself? Are copper ones better?

Just ask someone when you go there... the copper ones are dog dirt cheap and burn out fast,
the double looped ones say that they are SS and cost much more...simply ask someone

very simple , very easy

 

[DonL]

I have had 3 melted electric element in a 6 year old electric hot water tank in the last 5 months.

Problem started when I flushed the hot water tank 5 months ago. Problems started right away. Tripped breaker then no hot water... Element melted. Happened again 2 months later .. Then just happened again.

It's a 40 gallon tank with 2 3000W elements running non simultaneous.

Any thoughts or time for a new tank?

Silly question. Did you turn off power before draining the tank ?

Or have any chance of loosing water pressure ?

The heating elements are water cooled.

Good Luck.

 

[speeder]

Silly question. Did you turn off power before draining the tank ?

Or have any chance of loosing water pressure ?

The heating elements are water cooled.

Good Luck.

YES!! haha. not silly question. I did fill it up and ran the hot water tap for a while before I turned the breaker back on.

I don't think there's a chance of losing water pressure.