Your Noisy Water Heater Is Trying To Tell You Something Important

12/29/2021 (Permalink)

Maintenance in your water heater can prevent a flood.

Diagnosing Water Heater Problems

Think back to when your heater was still new. It may not have been completely silent, but because it was new, you were certain that the sounds you heard were normal. Then, one day, your heater began to make new sounds. It started to complain. Its first word may have been pop or click or buzz, but it was trying to tell you something was wrong.
Diagnosing heater problems by sound is an art. A professional plumber knows what your heater is complaining about. What follows are some common sources of and solutions to heater problems.

1. Gas and oil burners require special consideration. Safety is always a concern. Where there is a flame, there is a risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Burner problems are not common but are important to understand and consider. If your burner shows any indication of a problem, call a trained professional immediately.

2. Sediment is a common source of heater noise. Most sediment is sand or any solid material that finds its way from your well or water main into your water heater. Even in Ceres, OK, there is no way to avoid it. The noise comes from the water moving around the heating element and dislodging the sediment. Performing a water heater flush should eliminate this problem.

3. Mineral deposits can interfere with the operation of safety devices. Hard-water mineral deposits can foul pressure relief valves and backflow preventers. Noise from those devices may indicate a mineral buildup and suggest that the tank needs to be de-limed.

Simple Water Heater Maintenance Can Prevent a Flood
Inspecting, flushing and de-liming a water tank will help eliminate many causes of failure. Still, tanks can fail. When that happens, local water damage specialists can quickly deal with the flood and return your home to its former condition. It starts with a phone call.