Why Is My Water Heater Making Weird Noises?
Your water heater is a silent hero for your home. It operates seamlessly to provide warm water throughout the fixtures of your home. Spotting signs of trouble with your hot water heater can mean the difference between enjoying uninterrupted hot water or the chance for other problems in the future. If you’re starting to hear unusual noises with your hot water heater, it is important to contact a professional as soon as possible. Here are some of the top reasons your water heater may be making some weird noises.
Screeching
If you started a notice that your hot water heater is screeching, this can be the sign that the control valve on the inside of your hot water heater has been partially closed. Opening up the inlet control valve can be just as easy as turning a knob but if the valve seems stuck this could be an indication that there is debris caught inside the valve. Speaking to a professional plumber can be one of the easiest ways to handle the stuck valve or to clear out debris as required.
Solution: You’ll likely need the help of a professional plumber to fix this noise. They can help inspect the valves to ensure they can open and close perfectly.
Popping
A popping noise can be a huge red flag for your hot water heater. Water heater making these weird noises typically indicates that there is a massive amount of sediment towards the bottom of your hot water heater tank. It could become more difficult for your hot water heater to start transferring heat into the water so it’s important to remove the build-up of these deposits by regularly flushing and draining your tank when required. You need to consider installing a water filtration system if you regularly experienced this problem. The filtration system will filter out many of the hard minerals and make sure that your hot water heater will not experience difficulty such as a sediment build-up.
Solution: To remove the sediment buildup, a professional plumber will inspect the valves and drain the tank. This should resolve the problem of noise.
Leaking
If you hear a leaking sound coming from your hot water heater you will need to take immediate action. You might discover some spots on the floor and this can be an early sign that you could experience flooding as a result of your hot water heater. A leak could continually spring from a temperature or pressure relief valve, this feature discharges water when the temperature exceeds over 210° and it will relieve pressure in the tank when it reaches above 150 PSI. If the safety feature is regularly tripped, this can lead to an ongoing problem with leaking and the potential to flood.
Sizzling and Hissing
Electric water heaters are renowned for making hissing and sizzling sounds. These sounds are usually caused by sediment buildup at the tank’s base. This can be corrected by flushing and draining your water heater every year. This happens when the heating element below is covered in sediment. This problem is not always accompanied by irritating sounds. As the water heater has a reduced ability to heat water, the heating bills will rise.
Solution: Ensure the water heater is off so that you can inspect that all elements are tight. Before you start tightening screws, bolts and other pieces, make sure the water heater has been turned off for a few hours. Otherwise, the water inside could be scorching and if any leaks happen, you could quickly get burned.
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Hammering or Banging
Most people are familiar with the term water hammer. It is a sound that occurs when water suddenly changes direction or stops abruptly. This causes a pressure surge in the system. Water hammer can cause pipes to burst and even deform the water tank. To address the recurring problems, contact a plumber.
Solution: An extra piece of material can stop the noise. You can purchase a water hammer stopper at your local hardware store. It absorbs the shock caused by water shutting off quickly. The water hammer arrestor is easy to install and will eliminate the sound immediately.
Cracking
A cracking sound often comes from gas-powered water heaters and it is far less likely than with an electric-powered water heater. While the sound may be somewhat alarming, condensation is often the cause on the burner which is fairly normal. The cracking sound passes soon and you can enjoy the system with ease.
Groaning
This is often an indication that there’s excess pressure in the lines or across the tank itself. Groaning is often an indication of sediment building up inside the water heater. If you don’t currently have a water softener in place or a way that you can clear sediment out of the tank you will need to contact a professional plumber as soon as possible.
What Should I Do if My Water Heater Is Making Noises?
It’s crucial to act if your water heater makes any of these noises. You might be able to do it yourself if you are handy with plumbing. It’s best to hire professionals when it comes to plumbing or the hot water and steam associated with water heaters.
You don’t want the plumbing to be your problem, especially if it isn’t your first time. This could lead to water damage to your home and even injury to you.
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Our plumbers strive to provide workmanship that suits every homeowner’s needs. Our services include:
- Drain Cleaning
- General Plumbing Repair
- Sewer Repair
- Sewer Replacement
- Tankless Water Heater Installation
- Toilet Repair
- Video Plumbing Inspection
- Water Heater Replacement
- Expert Water Softener Installation Services
- Water Filtration
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Your water heaters are an essential part of your home, so you need to ensure they are in top condition. You may hear strange sounds that could indicate more serious problems. For all your water heater repairs and inspections, call a professional.
These are just a few of the top reasons why your hot water heater may be making some unusual noises throughout its operation. If you are in need of a professional assessment of your hot water heater, contact us today to learn more. Catching these issues early on can make sure that you could prevent a catastrophic failure in your hot water heater and a need for complete replacement in the future. Contact our team today at Clog Kings Plumbing if you hear some of these top noises regularly.
