Macon, Georgia, is a historic part of the state and features a unique Romanesque Revival-style courthouse built in 1894. It’s important to know about some common water heater issues if you live in Macon or the surrounding areas. One of the most frequent concerns many homeowners face is when their water heater is making noise. The knowledgeable team at Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has some helpful information about why your water heater may be making noise, what those noises mean, and what you can do about it.
Why Is My Water Heater Making Noise?
The reasons for water heater noise can vary, but it’s often caused by excess sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank. If your home has hard water, this can also lead to noise from the water heater over time due to mineral deposit accumulation. Corrosion in the tank and several other issues may also contribute to water heater noise, so it’s important to recognize the different types of these noises and what they indicate.
Types of Water Heater Noises and What They Mean
Here are some examples of loud water heater noises and what they could mean:
Knocking or hammering
A consistent knocking or hammering noise could be due to sediment buildup, or it may be caused by a part called a “water hammer.” This part may start to knock or move when water floods back through your pipes after the water is turned off. Other potential causes of a knocking or hammering sound include loose parts inside the water heater or when trapped air bubbles move around and cause a knocking noise.
Hissing noises
Strange hissing noises from your water heater could be caused by condensation from the tank in contact with hot surfaces. However, hissing could also indicate something more serious, like a crack or leak in the pipes or tank. Another reason for the hissing sound could be a layer of sediment, which eventually creates a thick layer in the bottom of the tank, causing steam to form and escape from the water heater.
Clicking or ticking
A constant ticking or clicking sound from your water heater may make it sound like a “ticking time bomb.” Loose components like pipe straps or heating elements often cause this noise. The clicking noise may also occur when the tank releases excess water pressure.
Whistling or screeching
These high-pitched noises can sound just like a tea kettle, but they may be caused by loose or faulty temperature and pressure release (TPR) valves letting air out of your tank. A loose drain valve or other fittings can also cause water heater squealing, whistling, or screeching. Other potential causes may be sediment buildup in the tank, water flow restrictions, or high water pressure that causes pipes to vibrate and create a high-pitched sound.
Popping sounds
If your water heater starts making a popping sound, a common cause is sediment buildup that forces the water in the tank to accumulate at the bottom and create steam bubbles that eventually “pop.” Minerals from hard water, excess corrosion, or rust may be the culprits that create this buildup. Fortunately, sediment buildup is a minor problem that is fairly easy to fix.
How to Fix a Noisy Water Heater
If you hear a noise coming from your water heater, there are a few things you can do to fix it yourself. One of the best ways to stop most noises is to flush and drain your tank to remove rust or sediment. You should flush, drain, and refill your water heater with clean water once a year to avoid excess buildup.
Flush, drain, and refill
Follow these steps carefully to flush, drain, and refill your water heater:
- Step one: Turn your water supply off and the power off at the circuit box for electric water heaters and the gas supply off for gas water heaters.
- Step two: Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater and direct it away from your basement floor, out of the basement window, or toward the outside.
- Step three: Open a hot water tap on your house's main floor to create pressure that forces the water out of your tank.
- Step four: Open your water tank drain valve and let the water run out of the garden hose — this may take 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of your tank.
- Step five: Turn on the cold water valve at the top of the tank once the water has drained to move the sediment from the bottom around and help it to drain out of the garden hose.
- Step six: Repeat steps one through five to remove all sediment until you see clear water coming from the hose, and leave the hot water tap on while doing so.
- Step seven: Close the tank drain valve when you see clear water draining from the hose, then turn the cold water valve back on at the top of the tank to refill it with water and turn the hot water tap off once you see a steady flow coming from the open hot water tap.
Other ways to stop water heater noises
If a flush, drain, and refill don’t stop the noises, add more insulation or straps around the tank to keep it from moving and stabilize the water pressure. Consider installing a whole-home water softener system to reduce mineral buildup if you have hard water. Try adjusting the water release valves per your owner’s manual, and if all else fails, call the pros at Ricky Heath for help.
When To Repair vs. Replace Your Water Heater
The average lifespan of a water heater is between eight and 12 years, and the average cost of water heater repair varies from as little as $90 to $1,000 or more. Here are some signs of a failing water heater to help you determine whether it’s best to repair or replace it:
- If your water heater is 10 years old or older, replacing it with a new, upgraded model is probably better.
- If the cost of repairs reaches 50% or more of the cost of a new water heater, a replacement is the better option.
- Random and infrequent minor issues that don’t require much repair should be fine as long as your water heater is still fairly “young.”
- Visible leaking could be a sign of a cracked water heater, which typically means it should be replaced.
- Rusty or corroded water could indicate that your water heater has reached the end of its life.
Contact Ricky Heath Today
Don’t let strange water heater noises keep you up at night. Count on the experienced team at Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to help you address all your water heater issues in Macon, GA, and the surrounding areas with care, speed, and quality. Contact us today if you’d like to schedule a water heater repair or replacement!
