Rusty element?

[ColMack]

I've noticed that one of my elements in my HLT is going rusty.  If cleaned off, will this do any harm to the brew? 

[Ciderhead]

Picture of it close up?


Sent from my Fukushima Daiichi Geiger counter

[Rossa]

Are you sure it isn't just crud?

[Ciderhead]

That's what I was thinking?


Sent from my Fukushima Daiichi Geiger counter

[ColMack]

I'll post a photo later.  This element is old.  Came with the brupaks boiler 5 years ago.  I've used all sorts to clean crud off it in the past which has long since removed any chrome that was on it.

[ColMack]

Photo attached.

[Rossa]

Holy rusted iron Batman. Time for a new element.

[Ciderhead]

Oh Jesus!
Time for a new element!

That could be dangerous

Wort is acidic, you need to scrub elements after use and rinse with water, that looks corroded like it was stored with a squirt of starsan or some other aggressive chemical


Edit
Rossa I wrote time for a new element first ya big copy cat

[Will_D]

NO kettle element can rust! They don't use Iron!

Elements are usually either Inconnel (a nickle allow) or some form of tinned bronze.

Just make up a strong solution of citric acid ( say a Tablespoon in 1/2 litre of hot water and steep the element.

This will disolve any oxides of copper and other things like lime scale.

If there is also baked on crud then use W5/VWP/Caustic soda first but finish with the citric acid!

HTH!

[mabrungard]

I find that the element itself is often relatively rust-resistant.  Its the mounting block that will rust easily.  One way to reduce the rusting is to coat the exposed surface of the mounting block with silicone seal (RTV).  That helps isolate the metal from the wort.  It works well since that block is not heated like the element is.  I've found that you can use regular silicone seal and there is no need to use high-temperature silicone seal.

[ColMack]

This is a HLT element, so has not boiled wort in almost a year, water only.  So it's unlikely to be crud or burnt on wort.  I'll give it a clean with some Vanish oxi and citric acid and repost a picture.

[Ciderhead]

Please as Will is never wrong:)


Sent from my divining rod v2.0

[Damien M]

I defer to the Chemists but..... is your water tank ( in attic) coated in a brown oxidey layer. It could be an accumulation/oxidation of that on your HLT element?

[ColMack]

After a ten min soak in a citric acid solution, this is how the element looks now. Good man Will!

[Ciderhead]

Oh wow, Will does it again where did you get the CA and how much water did you add?
Did it fizz?