hot water heater problems

[Wile E. C.]

Hi All
I have a HW tank in my house that's been burning out heating elements for the last 3 years in a row. First 2 years it was the bottom element and this time it's the top one. The tank is only 6 years old. The elements always burn out around this time of the year,winter,when the incoming water is very cold. Don't know if that has anything to do with it? I know some of my kids take long showers and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it as well.
Also,this tank has a thermostat that first turns on the top element then the bottom once the water has reached the set temp. Can anyone explain to me why that is?
Thanks

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Normally, only the lower element is used. The tank should be nearly full of cold water before the top element comes on, and it has to heat the top half of the tank enough to get the top thermostat to trip and switch to the lower one, which finishes the heating of the lower water in the tank. The purpose of the top element is to provide some last gasp hot water as the tank is nearing "empty" of hot water, and faster recovery, by heating the water that is first to be used (the water near the top).

Both elements should never be on at the same time!!!! you most likely will overload the wiring and breaker if this were to happen. The thermostats "flip-flop" between themselves depending on how much hot water remains.

Charles

 

[Mellotron]

Hi All
I have a HW tank in my house that's been burning out heating elements for the last 3 years in a row. First 2 years it was the bottom element and this time it's the top one. The tank is only 6 years old. The elements always burn out around this time of the year,winter,when the incoming water is very cold. Don't know if that has anything to do with it? I know some of my kids take long showers and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it as well.
Also,this tank has a thermostat that first turns on the top element then the bottom once the water has reached the set temp. Can anyone explain to me why that is?
Thanks

Could be a diminished anode thus wreaking havok on the elements. You on Well water? Also i've seen the elements come in Good, Better, Best quality. You buying the best?

 

[79firebird]

is it wired right? my buddy kept on burning them out where he was renting and some one when they where in the panle re wired it as 110 it would still work but was burning out the element. wired it back to 220 and was fine the last 2 years before he moved out.

 

[BigChevy80]

Dump the electric unit and get a gas fired one. Huge energy savings using gas over electric heat.