Water Heaters - Rusty Hot Water AGAIN!

I have a well (hopefully this is the correct forum) and an electric water heater. I replaced the heater about 2 years ago due to "red" water and recently the water is murky & rusty again. I did have a water softner but it quit on me and I don't know if the salt in the softner contributed to my problem or not since it had an iron/sediment filter. My brother-in-loaw said "you have to replace your water heater every couple of years" but I didn't believe him. The PEX hot water lines are "rusty" inside, bath water is red and so on. We do have high iron content in the well water and have had iron bacteria to which I "shocked" the system. (Maybe the bleach altered the metal in the water heater?) Anyway, I'm on the brink of getting a new water heater again and water softner and I know it'll last maybe a couple of years but this isn't right. A water heater is supposed to last several years Does anyone have any ideas as to why this has happened or am I in the wrong forum? Thanks :wall:

A water heater has only one "self preservation" device. The anode rod. This will attract harmful metals in the water and is a "sacrificial" part. The water going into the heater has to be treated to prevent short term failure. Good luck.

I did have a water softner but it quit on me and I don't know if the salt in the softner contributed to my problem or not since it had an iron/sediment filter.

If you water is anything like our well water here . You sure should have replaced that softner right a way. To fight the iron . Id start with it first and see what it does. Then a new water tank down the line maybe.

ED

I went to HD today and bought a whole house water filter. I plan on installing it tomorrow just as the water enters the house before any appliance or tank. I'll see if that fixes it's wagon. Thanks for the insight!

Don't get your hopes up. The best water filter cartridge you can buy will take out taste, odor, and sediment but not iron or calcium. If you need a softener, there is no substitute. The same goes with iron removal. It would be best to have a water test and quantify the impurities and minerals and know what you need to install to remove them.

Ken

I know you're right Ken, I keep putting off sending a water sample in but I guess I''d better soon. I do have a water softner but the water "messed up" and I cleaned out the softner. Guess what I found? A lot of media on the ground so I have to get more and get it running again. John