Water heaters are prone to rusting because they are manufactured from steel tanks that are in continuous contact with heated, oxygenated water and minerals. Because iron naturally reacts with oxygen and moisture to form iron oxide (rust), manufacturers coat tank interiors with glass lining and install a sacrificial anode rod made of magnesium or aluminum to attract corrosive elements. However, once hard water depletes the anode rod and cracks the glass lining, electrochemical oxidation attacks the bare steel directly. Verification: Maintain and replace sacrificial anode rods regularly.
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