When you combine water, oxygen, and metal, eventually you are going to see corrosive wear on your water heater. This happens mostly at the connections, the piping, and occasionally on the top of the water heater itself. Water heaters are actually designed to prevent corrosion through a number of different methods: the interior of the tank is glass-lined, there is an air valve that allows for a cushion but does not actually allow air inside the tank itself, and of course- the sacrificial anode rod; the rods entire purpose is to draw the corrosion so that the rod corrodes and not the tank itself.
Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electric recommends that anytime you see any type of corrosion on your water heater, it’s very important to call and have one of our knowledgeable technicians come out and take a look for you.
But wait, if it’s designed to prevent corrosion, why are you seeing it?
Let’s take a quick trip back to chemistry class and talk about what causes galvanic corrosion. Pipes that are connected, like copper and steel, that meet up with an electrically charged particle i.e. water in the pipes, creates an electrochemical reaction and that causes steel to corrode, where the two different types of metal meet the connection.
If your current water heater is more than 15 years old, it may just be time to replace it. Corrosion that a homeowner can see means that there is a good possibility that there is more and that this type of corrosion will continue. It’s also important to know that the corrosion can begin on the inside, and work it’s way out.
Corrosion can also happen to tankless water heaters, but this happens if there is a leak and the water drips on the gas burners, which corrode.
It’s important to remember that corrosion can happen to anything that is involving water, so it’s to be expected that over time, these conductive particles find a way to create these electrochemical reactions, like galvanic corrosion.
Affordable Service technicians are able to see every important part of your water heater and will check it out thoroughly and completely before recommending certain repairs or entire replacements. Affordable Service generally has a free estimated coupon available that you can utilize! Call our office to schedule an appointment or you schedule one online!
