Heater ran dry and melted plastic

[DerekB4]

I had a Aquatop heater with a protective guard running in my water change station. Made a newbie mistake and let it run. When I checked on it was running dry and melted the plastic to the heater and there is a white substance inside the bottom of the heater now.

I threw the heater away, but the water change brute trash can smells like burnt plastic. Do you think it’s ok to still use the water inside and the trash can?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Peel plastic off or insert in hot water to make removal easier. Its just a protective housing

 

[GBRsouth]

If your nose can pick up traces of those chemicals in the air you can only imagine how much chemical is in the water and what type of chemical is in there. I would not risk it.