Why Is Your Water Heater Making Strange Noises?

Have you been hearing strange sounds coming from your water heater? They may take the form of popping, hissing, or dripping. Whatever form they assume, they can be very distracting and upsetting. The time to get them looked at is now. You need to address the problem before it has the chance to grow larger in size as well as cost. 

What Kind of Noises Do You Hear?

One of the most common noises that you may hear is humming. This noise can come about due to loose-fitting components in your water heater. These may start to vibrate when the unit is on. You can deal with the issue by tightening the elements and screws.

You may also start to hear a great deal of what sounds like hammering. This can be due to water rushing into the pipes too quickly. The result is a shockwave that generates a great deal of force and resulting noise. You can install a water hammer arrestor to absorb the shock. This will help to absorb and ultimately forestall the din.

These hammering sounds may also be caused by sediment building up in the tank. These can cause steam bubbles to become trapped, resulting in a nasty noise when they pop.  You can prevent this by flushing and draining the tank to remove all of the extra sediment.

What if You Can’t Identify the Noise?

There may be certain noises that you just don’t seem able to identify. These may include all sorts of seemingly random popping, banging, or leaking. If this is the case, you may have a more serious problem. Your best bet will be to contact a plumber or a water heater specialist. A trained expert that falls into this category can inspect and repair your water heater. This may be the fastest way to get your home life back on track.