Technical summary

Guide on scale buildup, magnesium anode function and care to extend the life of the water heater and its heating element.

Typical applications

  • Residential or commercial electric water heaters.
  • Hot-water storage tanks.
  • Equipment with immersed heater and hard water.

Key points

Higher consumption

Scale reduces heat transfer and may increase heating time.

Magnesium anode

Its condition affects corrosion protection of the tank.

Scheduled inspection

Flushing and cleaning help avoid failures and leaks.

Recommended inquiry data

  • Water-heater capacity.
  • Heater power and voltage.
  • Thread, flange or fixing type.
  • Anode condition and amount of removed scale.
  • Photos of the removed assembly.

Related document

Related document: Open original PDF document.

Selection criteria

If the tank has advanced corrosion, replacing only the heater may not solve the root problem.

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