Water heater element going bad multiple times over a month

[Dennis Alwon]

No crud in the bottom , however scale on the element about the thickness of paper after 2 weeks!

Sounds like you found the culprit--

 

[kwired]

Try some other brand/model of replacement element.

I can't see localized boiling of the water near the element to be much issue unless there is defect in the element and it has "hot spots" that are hotter then the rest of the element. If it has that it is poor design or defective anyway. Mineral build up could cause this trouble, but seems strange that a "paper thick" build up forms on the element in only a couple weeks, but there is no build up in the bottom of the tank. Maybe some sort of water analysis is needed? Is this from a public or private water supply?

Is the anode rod in the tank good? It is primarily there to protect the tank, but maybe could have some impact on the element.

As was mentioned earlier try the longer lower watt density type elements. They will distribute the same wattage but over a larger area

 

[Jraef]

Stick something in hole. Sounds like u r sliding it into solid crud build up .

That's my experience too. The sediment is surrounding the element, and unlike the water heating up and flowing away with the heat as it is supposed to, the sediment heats up and that heat stays too close to the element, over heating it, which causes the ceramic coating to blister.