Water Heaters - Just an idea

Hello,

I just replaced a new water heater.

The previous one leaked badly, The source of the leak came from the shutoff valve, the water went into the heater thru the cold inlet, finally it rust out the tank.

In the new installed unit, I thinking of sealing both the hot and cold inlets by applying silicon caulking around the inlet nibbles thus prevent any accident leak from the cold and hot water lines.

Please give me any pro and con about this idea,

Thanks

The silicone won't matter. Inside the pipes is where you have to prevent rust. Don't use iron based piping. The water in you tap has a lot of dissolved oxygen that will rust and iron - even galvanized corrodes over time. Use brass connection to the tank and then copper or pex or whatever afterwards.