Two days ago I blew the lower element in my electric water heater. This happens every two to three years or so as I have a very high iron and silt content to my well water. I have a 10 micron filter in line after the well tank, and before any appliance, so I'm wondering what made it blow this way? By this way I mean the element itself usually breaks, but stays water tight. This time the element shorted out due to seepage from the tank. The following photos show the damage. My question is, is there anything I can do about this issue? Thanks for any info.

Is the anode rod depleted?
My softened well water will completely deplete the anode rod in under 2 years.

A 10 micron filter should catch most of the items. I would replace the water heater judging by the picture. Then replace the anode annually and drain every month or two. Are you sure that it's wired correctly?

I have hard water and had a dedicated 220v line run two years ago. I have never gotten more than 8 years out of a water heater, and they usually go by cracking the tank. I replaced the heater today, but I'm completely out of ideas as to whaf's causing these issues.

It could be electrolysis. Check and make sure there is no electricity on your water pipes. A lot of older homes grounded to water pipes and such and it's possibly something is leaking electricity into your water supply and the electrolysis will cause galvanic corrosion and eat the metal.

Research “low watt density” or “sand hog element” we had some sucess with them in difficult locations back in the day.

The sand hog units are tough critters... capable of operating buried under deposits or or even in free air / not submerged. Under sediment they are less efficient however.

A 6 year warranted water heater is engineered for 6 years and 3 months of life. 87% of the water heater market is replacement heaters.

Mine did that, the top of the tank cracked.

Water has been seeping around that element for some time,sure you have other things going on with the heater but what I see is a leak on your wires.

quote:

Originally posted by BDA220:
Is the anode rod depleted?
My softened well water will completely deplete the anode rod in under 2 years.

That's a good question. I'll check the old unit and see.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
It could be electrolysis. Check and make sure there is no electricity on your water pipes. A lot of older homes grounded to water pipes and such and it's possibly something is leaking electricity into your water supply and the electrolysis will cause galvanic corrosion and eat the metal.

My well plumbing is PVC so the house can't be grounded to the plumbing. I don't start with the copper until after the pressure switch.

Buy a Rheem Marathon water heater.

The last water heater I bought has a 316 stainless steel tank, but I haven't had it long enough to say if it will last.

Do you flush the tank every year?