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Had a Ariston GL4 electric hot water heater supplementing the hot water in my condo for over ten years - just had to clean out every 6 months and replace anode rod. Finally had to replace it, believe was because a burnt appearance on left connection to electric element. Replaced it with the new replacement, the Bosch equivalent. Turned up the temp for dishwasher, then back down when done. Started smelling a burning smell when water heater turned on. Finally pulled the faceplace after smell stronger after several uses, found left electrical connection to water heater element totally burnt and black, steel on heating element base that shows without pulling element out - appears brown instead of steel looking, and maybe some greenishness. Bosch said to try to test element, and they will send out new thermostat and element - why would this happen? After cleaning tank out, I have put a bit of vinegar into the tank and flushed it out -I assume that wouldn't do it. The water heater is plugged into a GFI outlet, which I pushed the test button to ensure it is working. I have bought a heavy duty outlet strip (not a surge protector) - from TrippLIte, with its own 15 amp breaker - and the Tripp Lite OSI block or whatever surge protector, which they claim is the only product they make heavy duty enough for the water heater, which will plug into the heavy duty strip - any thoughts? The strip is necessary to be able to properly use the surge protector -

I installed a Ariston 4 gallon electric water heater to supplement my weak hot water in my condo, plumbing it so the hot water entered the cold side, and would be be boosted to the correct temperature if necessary. It had a cool on/off switch so I would just turn it off when leaving, turn it on before i needed it. The only caveat is that I had to drain the tank every six months and change the anode rod, or it would be toast before long. Many years later I think it developed a small leak, and I replaced it, I tried to buy the original Ariston but what came instead was the ugly Bosch replacement. This one has a ugly grey appearance, a dim indicator light, and to turn it off you must turn the temp dial all the way to off, and re-select the temp each time. Each of the two thermostat designs would have pros and cons, but I prefer the Ariston. The Bosch claims a "titanium lined tank" but I see no benefit to that - it doesn't stay clean any longer than the Ariston did. What really got me though is I was smelling a burning smell when the heater was on - I had turned up the temp more when using the dishwasher as I was getting a white film on brown melmac dishes, and was checking the temp where the hot water exited to see if anything was melting, and it wasn't. Finally I pulled the faceplace off after unplugging, and found the left hand wire to the heating element totally blackened and burnt - why would this happen? I didn't buy this at HD, but asked there today - and was told that the Bosch is cheaper design, and that I am not supposed to turn the heater off when leaving, just turn it way down - the instructions did not say I could not turn this unit off when I was gone - thoughts?