Rusting Element?

[thirdeye]

Hey guys, I bought a Camco 5500 electric hot water element and have been using it for a few months. Over that time it has corroded like a MF. Like drips iron oxide in my kettle as it dries and it can't be left with any water in the kettle or it turns the water brown within a day. I'm guessing I ordered a defective one? Should I look at buying a block of magnesium to bolt to my keggle? I use filtered city water, so hardness shouldn't be an issue...

[mr x]

Those elements rust at the threaded part. There's really no way around that from my experience. You just need to try to keep it dry. But maybe there is a chemical reaction that is making it worse in your case.

[RubberToe]

FWIW I have the same one and I haven't noticed it rusting. I'll take another look this evening as it's had water in it for like a week at least since I forgot to empty it after a sous vide cook.

[HPhunter]

Mine only rust at the threaded part. What have you used to clean it? I think TSP will strip off the outer layer, then it can rust. Or you got the wrong/bad element.

[mr x]

IIRC, some of them are plated, and won't rust until that layer begins to break down. Some of the others are not and will rust right away.

[GillettBreweryCnslt]

I've read of a few rusting before on that "other" forum. I haven't had mine in water yet but when I do I'll report back. I got the 4500W ones

[mr x]

The conditions aren't quite the same, but you'll not find an element in a hot water heater that hasn't rusted and pitted.