Hi all,

My 80 gallon electric hot water heater's lower heating element has burned
out for the second time. It burned out about 8 years ago, and I replaced it
then. The heater is about 18 years old now. I have well water, which is very
hard and has a lot of calcium and lime in it. When I replaced that element 8
years ago, I looked into the heater thru the element hole and the bottom of the
tank was packed with chunks of lime & calcuim. I vacuumed out as much as I could
with my shop vac, but I would say that there was still about 3-4 inches of the
stuff still in there. Now, it's 8 years later, and I would guess that the chunks
probably are now above the element hole. I am also very leery about opening the
drain valve (it's a plastic one), as I'm afraid if a piece of those chunks gets
into the valve, I might not be able to close it. I'm also afraid that if I open
it, nothing will come out due to the calcium and lime blocking the drain
passageway. If I remember correctly, it took about 2 hours for it to drain 8
years ago.

Should I try to replace the element, or should I replace the heater ???


RON
================================================== ======
Remove the ZZZ from my E-mail address to send me E-mail.

On Jan 3, 11:55*am, (Ron in NY) wrote:
Hi all,

* * My 80 gallon electric hot water heater's lower heating element has burned
out for the second time. It burned out about 8 years ago, and I replaced it
then. The heater is about 18 years old now. I have well water, which is very
hard and has a lot of calcium and lime in it. When I replaced that element 8
years ago, I looked into the heater thru the element hole and the bottom of the
tank was packed with chunks of lime & calcuim. I vacuumed out as much as I could
with my shop vac, but I would say that there was still about 3-4 inches of the
stuff still in there. Now, it's 8 years later, and I would guess that the chunks
probably are now above the element hole. I am also very leery about opening the
drain valve (it's a plastic one), as I'm afraid if a piece of those chunks gets
into the valve, I might not be able to close it. I'm also afraid that if I open
it, nothing will come out due to the calcium and lime blocking the drain
passageway. If I remember correctly, it took about 2 hours for it to drain 8
years ago.

* * *Should I try to replace the element, or should I replace the heater ???

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RON
================================================== ======
Remove the ZZZ from my E-mail address to send me E-mail.


Replace the heater. You got 18 years out of it and for the cost of a
new one, it's not worth screwing around.

On 01/03/09 12:22 pm wrote:

My 80 gallon electric hot water heater's lower heating element has burned
out for the second time. It burned out about 8 years ago, and I replaced it
then. The heater is about 18 years old now. I have well water, which is very
hard and has a lot of calcium and lime in it. When I replaced that element 8
years ago, I looked into the heater thru the element hole and the bottom of the
tank was packed with chunks of lime& calcuim. I vacuumed out as much as I could
with my shop vac, but I would say that there was still about 3-4 inches of the
stuff still in there. Now, it's 8 years later, and I would guess that the chunks
probably are now above the element hole. I am also very leery about opening the
drain valve (it's a plastic one), as I'm afraid if a piece of those chunks gets
into the valve, I might not be able to close it. I'm also afraid that if I open
it, nothing will come out due to the calcium and lime blocking the drain
passageway. If I remember correctly, it took about 2 hours for it to drain 8
years ago.

Should I try to replace the element, or should I replace the heater ???

Replace the heater. You got 18 years out of it and for the cost of a
new one, it's not worth screwing around.

And it sounds as though the OP should consider installing a water
softener too.

Perce

On Jan 3, 8:55*am, (Ron in NY) wrote:
Hi all,

* * My 80 gallon electric hot water heater's lower heating element has burned
out for the second time. It burned out about 8 years ago, and I replaced it
then. The heater is about 18 years old now. I have well water, which is very
hard and has a lot of calcium and lime in it. When I replaced that element 8
years ago, I looked into the heater thru the element hole and the bottom of the
tank was packed with chunks of lime & calcuim. I vacuumed out as much as I could
with my shop vac, but I would say that there was still about 3-4 inches of the
stuff still in there. Now, it's 8 years later, and I would guess that the chunks
probably are now above the element hole. I am also very leery about opening the
drain valve (it's a plastic one), as I'm afraid if a piece of those chunks gets
into the valve, I might not be able to close it. I'm also afraid that if I open
it, nothing will come out due to the calcium and lime blocking the drain
passageway. If I remember correctly, it took about 2 hours for it to drain 8
years ago.

* * *Should I try to replace the element, or should I replace the heater ???

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RON
================================================== ======
Remove the ZZZ from my E-mail address to send me E-mail.

Ron-

You could futz around with the old w/h ....the type of water chemistry
you have lends itself to very long w/h life.

You have LOTS of sediment at this point, you could dissolve it with an
industrial scale remover.

BUT at what cost? Your time & the chemicals to de-scale. PLUS
the chance of subsequent failure.

Depending on where the w/h is and where the water from a leak goes, I
might try to extend its life.
My guess is that by cleaning it up you might get another 6 or 8
years. That plastic drain valve can be replaced with another style.

Given your water chemistry, expelling water / sediment on a more
frequent basis would help extend the life of a new unit.

How lucky do you feel? Would you rather replace the w/h on your
schedule or at the time of a random failure?

cheers
Bob

BobK207 wrote:
On Jan 3, 8:55 am, (Ron in NY) wrote:
Hi all,

My 80 gallon electric hot water heater's lower heating element has burned
out for the second time. It burned out about 8 years ago, and I replaced it
then. The heater is about 18 years old now. I have well water, which is very
hard and has a lot of calcium and lime in it. When I replaced that element 8
years ago, I looked into the heater thru the element hole and the bottom of the
tank was packed with chunks of lime & calcuim. I vacuumed out as much as I could
with my shop vac, but I would say that there was still about 3-4 inches of the
stuff still in there. Now, it's 8 years later, and I would guess that the chunks
probably are now above the element hole. I am also very leery about opening the
drain valve (it's a plastic one), as I'm afraid if a piece of those chunks gets
into the valve, I might not be able to close it. I'm also afraid that if I open
it, nothing will come out due to the calcium and lime blocking the drain
passageway. If I remember correctly, it took about 2 hours for it to drain 8
years ago.

Should I try to replace the element, or should I replace the heater ???

RON
================================================== ======
Remove the ZZZ from my E-mail address to send me E-mail.

Ron-

You could futz around with the old w/h ....the type of water chemistry
you have lends itself to very long w/h life.

You have LOTS of sediment at this point, you could dissolve it with an
industrial scale remover.

BUT at what cost? Your time & the chemicals to de-scale. PLUS
the chance of subsequent failure.

Depending on where the w/h is and where the water from a leak goes, I
might try to extend its life.
My guess is that by cleaning it up you might get another 6 or 8
years. That plastic drain valve can be replaced with another style.

Given your water chemistry, expelling water / sediment on a more
frequent basis would help extend the life of a new unit.

How lucky do you feel? Would you rather replace the w/h on your
schedule or at the time of a random failure?

cheers
Bob

If you really have that much sediment... replacement is probably your
best option.

You say you have a plastic drain valve. I agree that it probably will
not close. If you want to try to salvage this water heater you need to
replace that plastic spigot with a brass ball valve, period. Otherwise
you are looking at replacement. Alternately you could just get a brass
cap for a garden hose fitting and use that to cap off the spigot after
you open it.

Have you ever inspected the anode? That will tell you how much life is
left in the tank itself (in terms of corrosion, at least)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

On Jan 3, 1:33�pm, Nate Nagel wrote:
BobK207 wrote:
On Jan 3, 8:55 am, (Ron in NY) wrote:
Hi all,

� � My 80 gallon electric hot water heater's lower heating element has burned
out for the second time. It burned out about 8 years ago, and I replaced it
then. The heater is about 18 years old now. I have well water, which is very
hard and has a lot of calcium and lime in it. When I replaced that element 8
years ago, I looked into the heater thru the element hole and the bottom of the
tank was packed with chunks of lime & calcuim. I vacuumed out as much as I could
with my shop vac, but I would say that there was still about 3-4 inches of the
stuff still in there. Now, it's 8 years later, and I would guess that the chunks
probably are now above the element hole. I am also very leery about opening the
drain valve (it's a plastic one), as I'm afraid if a piece of those chunks gets
into the valve, I might not be able to close it. I'm also afraid that if I open
it, nothing will come out due to the calcium and lime blocking the drain
passageway. If I remember correctly, it took about 2 hours for it to drain 8
years ago.

� � �Should I try to replace the element, or should I replace the heater ???

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � RON
================================================== ======
Remove the ZZZ from my E-mail address to send me E-mail.

Ron-

You could futz around with the old w/h ....the type of water chemistry
you have �lends itself to very long w/h life.

You have LOTS of sediment at this point, you could dissolve it with an
industrial scale remover.

BUT at what cost? � �Your time & the chemicals to de-scale. � �PLUS
the chance of subsequent failure.

Depending on where the w/h is and where the water from a leak goes, I
might try to extend its life.
My guess is that by cleaning it up you might get another 6 or 8
years. �That plastic drain valve can be replaced with another style.

Given your water chemistry, expelling water / sediment on a more
frequent basis would help extend the life of a new unit.

How lucky do you feel? �Would you rather replace the w/h on your
schedule or at the time of a random failure?

cheers
Bob

If you really have that much sediment... replacement is probably your
best option.

You say you have a plastic drain valve. �I agree that it probably will
not close. �If you want to try to salvage this water heater you need to
replace that plastic spigot with a brass ball valve, period. �Otherwise
you are looking at replacement. �Alternately you could just get a brass
cap for a garden hose fitting and use that to cap off the spigot after
you open it.

Have you ever inspected the anode? �That will tell you how much life is
left in the tank itself (in terms of corrosion, at least)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.http://members.cox.net/njnagel- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

a brand new heater will save energy, with better insulation etc..

I would rather replace on my schedule than when it starts leaking.

christmas eve snowstorm with house guests coming

If your budget can withstand the shock, I'd go for the heater. Install a
full flow ball valve on the drain of the new WH, and use the drain twice a
year, at least.

When I replaced my W.H., it was late in January, and sixteen inches snow on
the ground. My WH is in a cabinet, outside my trailer, so I didn't do any of
that fancy stuff.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Ron in NY" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My 80 gallon electric hot water heater's lower heating element has
burned
out for the second time. It burned out about 8 years ago, and I replaced it
then. The heater is about 18 years old now. I have well water, which is very
hard and has a lot of calcium and lime in it. When I replaced that element 8
years ago, I looked into the heater thru the element hole and the bottom of
the
tank was packed with chunks of lime & calcuim. I vacuumed out as much as I
could
with my shop vac, but I would say that there was still about 3-4 inches of
the
stuff still in there. Now, it's 8 years later, and I would guess that the
chunks
probably are now above the element hole. I am also very leery about opening
the
drain valve (it's a plastic one), as I'm afraid if a piece of those chunks
gets
into the valve, I might not be able to close it. I'm also afraid that if I
open
it, nothing will come out due to the calcium and lime blocking the drain
passageway. If I remember correctly, it took about 2 hours for it to drain 8
years ago.

Should I try to replace the element, or should I replace the heater ???


RON
================================================== ======
Remove the ZZZ from my E-mail address to send me E-mail.