Table Of Contents
Causes Of Water Heater Sounds
There can be several causes for hot water heaters. Noisy water heaters are generally an indication of maintenance. However, some noises can be a topic of concern.
When the heating process is started for cold water, the dissolved minerals from hard water recrystallize and then make sediments and scale. With harder water, the mineral deposits are much quicker.
The scale also cakes within the interior surface of the heater and later forms sediments at the bottom of the water heater storage tank.
To minimize the scale amount in the water, it’s best to have the plumber for installing the anti-scale device in the waterline. The system can help keep minerals suspended inside the water, making fewer chances of getting them stuck with water heater equipment.
This is the ideal way of controlling minerals of hard water for combining with the anti-scale device and the water softener, removing all minerals from the water.
How Are The Knocking Sounds Produced Through The Heating Burner?
Once the sediments get trapped within the heater tank’s base, they become clogged beside the burner. When the heating process starts for the cold water, the water starts boiling, and later it makes bubbles until it gets out of the sediment layer. The knocking sound is just produced at the time of moving up and down.
Here, we’re going to understand what leads to such knocking sounds and what can be done about it.
In most cases, knocking sounds result from mineral deposits and sediments gathered at the water heater tank bottom. Every other person knows such knocking sound agents. This sound mostly gets produced because of the lower volume at the bottom of the hot water heater tank.
Popping, Crackling, Or Popping Noises
If the sound is something like gravel boiling inside the tank bottom of the gas water heater, in some way, it can be. However, the gravel responsible for such a rumbling sound is the sediment through hard water and mineral scale.
When the bottom water sediment of the heater tank gets heated through the burner, it turns hot. With this, the sediment also tumbles and rolls. Due to this, a rumbling sound is produced.
When there is a fire in the gas burner, it can boil water that has been confined beneath the sediment. With it, a popping sound is produced. Flushing the water heater works great for solving these problems.
The popping or rumbling sound doesn’t mean that there is danger in the water heater. However, a problem is there for sure. Due to the burner heat traveling through sediment layers for reaching water, the water heater’s efficiency gets minimized.
Additionally, these scale chunks can easily damage the inner surface of the water heater and make way through pipes. Water flow can be hampered from the jammed way through these chunks.
Because of this reason, it is vital to flush your tank once at least in a few months.
The scale can eventually coat heating elements within the tank in a water heater. After catching heat, these elements fry the heater’s scale with the trapped water beneath it. Here the outcome can be the popping noise from the water heater with sizzling sounds and crackling noises.
The solution for fixing noise in the electric heater would be the replacement of heating elements.
Fixing Humming Or Vibration Noise
Getting noises such as vibration in a gas-based water heater is typically an outcome of a defective burner present at the tank bottom. The fins or metal plates kept within the burner deflects over time and can easily rub on each other, with the burner being on, resulting in a vibration or humming sound.
The vibration or humming sound can be fixed simply by trimming or bending the metal bracket kept near the burner. Making certain repairs can void the heater’s warranty.
Water Boiling Sound And How To Fix It
There have been reported issues of water boiling inside the heater tank, and it turns down the temperature of the water heater.
For fixing the issue, firstly, it is essential to test the T&P valve of the heater for ensuring that the heater is properly releasing the built pressure. The level should be lifted, and the user must ensure that the water passes out from the water discharge pipe. After that, it is advisable to release the lever. The lever should then snap down back.
If it isn’t working, the value of T&P can easily get replaced. You have to see how you’ll be able to replace the T&P Relief valve and water heater.
Some Common Fixes For Heater Sounds
Rather than doing this job by themselves, users can also get the help of a professional plumbing company like Sugar Bear Home Services. The sound problem could point out the dangerous build-up of pressure through overheating.
- For a fuel-powered water heater tank, gas control must be in pilot settings. With pilot settings, it is easy to minimize knocking and popping sounds.
- It is important to shut down the circuit breaker powering the tank and completely minimize it or do it with knocking sounds to use an electric-powered heater tank.
- Turning down the supply of cold water also helps and leads to less noise.
- Another great way of stopping these sounds is to attach a hose to the heater tank’s hot water drain valve. The drain valve can be found at a small spigot section at the tank bottom.
- To reduce sounds, you must turn the hot water at the sink near the tank, so zero gaps are there in the heater resulting in fewer sounds.
For water heater installations and repair, it’s best to look out for experienced plumbing professionals such as Sugar Bear Plumbing. They prove helpful for people who are unsure of doing the repair tasks by themselves. They are known for providing customers with quick solutions and upfront flat-rate pricing without surprises and overtime charges.
Sometimes noises from water heaters, such as knocking sounds, alert users that something wrong is going on with the heating system. Also, hearing a knocking noise can be alarming sometimes. However, occasionally, hot water heaters can produce a severe or minor popping or knocking sound.If the water heater rumbles, pops or makes any other unusual noise, the best thing to do would be to troubleshoot and look for an ideal solution as quickly as possible. Ideal solutions in this regard can include DIY repairs or contacting professional plumbing solutions such as water heater services in South San Francisco for both electric and gas-operated water heaters.
