What causes a water heater element to go bad?
There are several factors that can cause a water heater element to go bad - it could be just one of them, or it could be a combination of them. But most importantly, if you know what's causing the problem - you may be able to prevent it before it happens.
Here are 4 conditions that can cause a water heater element to fail
Hard water - minerals in hard water can form a layer on the heating element, making it harder to transfer heat to the water.
Air pockets - If air pockets develop around the water heater element in the tank, it will not work because it needs water to work
Electrical surges - Like most electrical equipment, electrical surges can cause damage, and water heaters and their components are no exception
Wires - If wires are frayed or disconnected, this can lead to poor connections between the water heater and the heating element
