What Causes Corrosion?

The corrosion in your water heater is caused by minerals and deposits that accumulate in your tank. When this happens, it starts to corrode the metal interior of your tank. As the minerals and deposits start to eat their way through the water heater, your unit will not run at its optimal level. It’s that simple! It will also lessen its lifespan. If you own an electric water heater, the heating elements are made out of metal. And when these pieces get wet, they can start to corrode.

Where Does Corrosion Start?

Not only will you find the corrosion at the heating elements in an electrical unit, but you can also find corrosion in the combustion chamber if you have a gas water heater. These are the two most common places to find rust in your unit. You will want to check there when looking for corrosion in your water heater.

Prevention of Corrosion

An anode is a metal rod that helps prevent corrosion from eating away at your water heater. The sacrificial anode is typically composed of magnesium or aluminum. The minerals that accumulate in your water heater will eat away at the anode instead of the unit itself. When the anode has been completely eaten, the minerals will begin working on the unit.

You also want to make sure that any metal components inside the water heater are comprised of brass or copper. These materials are resistant to corrosion and can help safeguard your unit. If they are composed of other types of metals, you want to make sure they are lined so the metal unit and the metal components are not touching.

Problems with the Anode

As your unit ages, the anode can become encompassed with calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate builds up when you start to experience hard water problems. If you see this happening, you may want to install a water softener to your plumbing. Instead of the minerals eating away at the anode, they will choose to eat at the unit instead. In order to see if the anode needs to be replaced, you should call your local plumbers to come out and remove it. If the anode can be bent, then it should be replaced.

As your water heater ages, it is important to keep an eye out for corrosion. This not only shortens its lifespan, but it can hinder it from working optimally. Preserving your unit means that you need to check for corrosion at least twice a year.