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

      • @atlas@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        58
        edit-2
        1 month ago

        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

      • @huginn@feddit.it
        link
        fedilink
        English
        451 month ago

        That’s not entirely true: sacrificial anodes attract and collect calcium and magnesium as well as preventing rust.

        • @seathru@lemmy.sdf.org
          link
          fedilink
          English
          8
          edit-2
          1 month ago

          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).

      • spicy pancake
        link
        fedilink
        English
        121 month ago

        that is a high fantasy wizard ass sounding name for a plumbing part

        • Thassodar
          link
          fedilink
          English
          101 month ago

          “Sire, the Sacrificial Anode…has failed.”

          “SOUND THE ALARMS!”