Breakers tripping halfway is definitely more common with older panels, yeah—my 70s box does it sometimes and it’s super confusing. As for corrosion, I’ve had luck gently scrubbing terminals with a toothbrush and a bit of vinegar, but if the metal is really pitted or brittle, I’d swap out the thermostat. It’s nerve-wracking poking around in there, but as long as you kill the power at the panel first, it’s not too bad. Just don’t rush it.
I get what you’re saying about cleaning terminals, but I’ve actually had mixed results with vinegar. One time I tried it on an old heater and the corrosion came back within a month. Ended up just replacing the whole thermostat, which wasn’t as pricey as I thought—found a decent one on sale. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just better to swap parts than keep fighting the old ones, especially when you’re on a budget and don’t want to risk a bigger problem down the line.
I’ve run into the same thing with vinegar—sometimes it seems to work, other times the corrosion just comes right back. I tried it on a water heater element once, and it looked clean for a bit, but then I was back to square one after a few weeks. I started wondering if maybe the underlying issue was moisture getting in, or if the metal was just too far gone. Did you notice if the corrosion was worse in certain spots, or was it just everywhere?
I get the temptation to just swap out parts instead of fighting with them. I used to be all about cleaning and reusing, but after replacing a thermostat and seeing how much more reliable things got, I’m starting to lean that way too. Especially with electrical stuff—sometimes it feels like you’re just delaying the inevitable by cleaning terminals, and if something fails at the wrong time (like mid-shower), it’s a huge pain.
One thing I’m still not sure about is whether it’s worth trying dielectric grease on the terminals after cleaning. I’ve read mixed things—some folks swear by it for keeping corrosion at bay, others say it just masks bigger problems. Have you ever tried that, or do you just go straight to replacement now?
Also, when you replaced your thermostat, did you notice any other issues pop up? I swapped mine and suddenly realized my breaker was tripping more often, which turned out to be a failing element. Makes me wonder if sometimes one bad part puts extra stress on the rest of the system.
Curious if anyone else has had luck with certain brands or methods for keeping things running longer. I’m always looking for ways to stretch the life of these old heaters without sinking too much cash into them... but sometimes it feels like a losing battle.
I’ve been down this road more times than I can count. Vinegar’s hit or miss—sometimes it buys you a few months, but if the metal’s pitted or the seal’s gone, it’s just a band-aid. I’ve tried dielectric grease after cleaning terminals, and honestly, it helps a bit with surface corrosion, but if moisture keeps getting in, you’re just delaying the inevitable. Once I started swapping out elements and thermostats instead of fussing with them, my call-backs dropped way down. Funny thing—last time I replaced a thermostat, the element failed a week later. Seems like once one part goes, the rest aren’t far behind. At a certain point, it’s just not worth fighting with 20-year-old hardware...
Seems like once one part goes, the rest aren’t far behind. At a certain point, it’s just not worth fighting with 20-year-old hardware...
Couldn’t agree more—old heaters are like dominos, knock one over and the rest follow. I used to patch things up too, but after replacing the same element twice in a year, I just started budgeting for full replacements. Sometimes you’ve got to know when to fold ‘em... and when to call the scrap guy.