Your water heater
is one of the most crucial pieces of equipment in your home or commercial space.
You use it daily, so it should always run seamlessly. Therefore, it becomes
worrying when you hear your
water heater making noise. The following are common noises you may hear
and explanations for them.
Banging or Hammering
Banging occurs
when the water rushes forcefully into the system, pushing internally against
the tank or when the pipes are loose and hammering against each other. While
this is not usually a cause for alarm, sometimes the force can be excessive,
risking bursting the pipes. Plumbers will add insulation or install an arrestor
to prevent the banging.
Popping
If your water heater is making a popping
sound, it may indicate sediment buildup. It is common when dealing with
hard water with heavy mineral concentrations, especially in conventional tank
heaters. This is why you should call experts for regular tank maintenance to
prevent mineral deposits. This buildup can conduct heat, adding pressure inside
and causing bubbling and popping as the heater runs.
Whistling or High Pitch Sounds
The water tank is
under a lot of pressure, which can cause whistling sounds. However, sometimes,
the noise is due to a malfunctioning or blocked inlet valve, which calls for
immediate repairs. Only a professional will tell you where the damage is and
repair it for you.
Humming
When the heating
components of the tank are loose, they can cause vibrations in the system,
causing a humming sound. Plumbers come in and tighten up the loose parts to
eliminate the noise.
Hissing
Another common
noise users hear from the water heater is a hiss, similar to the sound from
escaping air. This is expected when sediments cover the bottom part, leading to
a hissing sound. Luckily, it is easy to resolve with a simple flushing or
draining.
Vibration or Rumbling
The more the
sediments form in the water tank, the more you hear a rumbling sound. This
buildup traps the water, leading to bubbling, which you hear as a vibration.
Sizzling
If you are
wondering why your water
heater is making noise, it may be a leaking tank causing a sizzling
sound whenever the water touches the hot internal parts. This is different from
condensation, but if you see a large amount of water outside, that calls for
immediate repairs or replacements.
Trust Professional Plumbers to
Fix Your Water Heater
Hearing strange noises from your water heater can be worrying. While they may be normal sounds coming from the system operating, they could also indicate damage that will only worsen with time. That's why you should consult our experts at A-Total Plumbing for diagnosis and water heater repair services in Cartersville.