Got a Noisy Water Heater? Here's Why and How To Fix It

Of all the appliances you have in your home, you may be surprised to learn that your water heater is perhaps the appliance that gets used most often on a daily basis. Whether you are doing loads of laundry, washing dishes, or taking a shower after you wake up, it has a heavy workload that can at some point lead to various problems. Should your water heater begin to experience issues, you'll start noticing a number of strange sounds. As to which water heater noises you are most likely to hear, our team here at Boss Plumbing has everything you need to know when you've got a water heater making noises.

Common Water Heater Noises and What They Mean When you start hearing water heater sounds, it usually means you've got a problem that requires the services of a professional and licensed plumber who can assess the situation and make the necessary repairs or help you choose a new water heater for your home. Now that you're wondering just what water heater problems could lead to your water heater going out, here are the most common water heater noises and what they mean.

Humming Should you hear your water heater humming, you won't feel the urge to join in and try to name that tune. Instead, you'll find it annoying and worrisome, since you'll realize you're going to need your water heater serviced by a plumber who knows exactly what that noise means. Humming sounds usually mean your water heater has some loose parts inside it that are vibrating. Though this can be a simple fix you can do yourself, only do so if you understand water heater repair and are comfortable doing this as a DIY project. Otherwise, rely on our experts here at Boss Plumbing to get the job done.

Knocking Knocking noises mean your water heater is being quite loud and unnerving to say the least. In most cases when this sound is heard, you'll hear your water heater making noise after a shower. However, despite the intense noise coming from your water heater, the good news is that it doesn't signal a major problem. Knocking or hammering noises mean water is hitting the water heater's shutoff valves too fast. To correct the problem, you can purchase a water hammer arrestor from a hardware store and have a plumber install the part to your water heater for you.

Sizzling While you may like hearing a steak sizzle, you don't want to hear this sound emitting from your water heater. Sizzling sounds indicate your water heater has a leak on its inside that is causing water to drip onto its burner. If you have a gas water heater in your home, this can be one of the most common issues associated with water heater pilot lights.

Popping Another common water heater sound, popping is often a sign that you may need to replace an older water heater in your home, especially if you don’t know how long your water heater is supposed to last. Popping noises mean your water heater has a buildup of sediment and other debris on its bottom, which over time results in a buildup that traps water. If your water heater is older and lacks a pressure-relief valve, this added pressure could put your tank at risk of exploding.

Crackling Usually a problem with gas rather than electric water heaters, crackling noises almost always mean condensation has built up on the burner. Unlike other noises that indicate a potentially serious problem with your water heater, crackling noises are normal and are nothing to worry about.

Ticking If you have had a water heater installed in your home and are noticing ticking noises, this is likely due to water pressure fluctuations or loose pipe straps that need to be tightened up. Just as it is with crackling noises, your water heater is not being damaged and does not need immediate repairs.

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When Your Water Heater Needs a Professional Plumber As you've figured out by now, not all noises mean you'll need to be placing a call to us here at Boss Plumbing. In fact, whether you have a tank or tankless water heater, certain noises are more problematic than others. Whether your water heater is a bit older or almost new, keep in mind that should you hear it hum, knock, sizzle, or pop, it's a good idea to contact us here at Boss Plumbing so that one of our highly-trained and experienced plumbers can give your water heater a thorough inspection. Upon closer look by a trained plumbing professional from Boss Plumbing, it's possible our team may discover a problem with your water heater's thermocouple that needs to be addressed right away. In some cases, the thermocouple may only need to be cleaned. However, if your water heater is older or has had other problems that have taken a toll on the thermocouple, our plumber may need to replace the thermocouple to get your water heater working at peak efficiency once again.

Trust Our Water Heater Team With our more than 30 years of experience, reasonable prices, same-day and emergency service, and reputation for excellent customer service, you can always trust our water heater team here at Boss Plumbing. Whether you're interested in having an electric water heater installed or have questions about noises that may be coming from a tankless water heater in your home, contact us today to put your mind at ease and schedule a service call right away.

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