Noise is a way to know if something is wrong with your water heater. Of course, there are small sounds when the tank heats up, but louder ones are not typical and warrant further examination. They can indicate an emergency waiting to happen. If you hear any of these unusual noises inside the hot-water tank, be sure to call local plumbers for water heater servicing.
Geyser-Like Noise
If you hear a jet of water shooting out from the tank, then there is a possibility that the pipe has ruptured and the tank is leaking. This situation might be hazardous because it can make your house or apartment floor wet.
Call a plumber immediately. The plumber will first turn off the main water supply valve to stop further damages. Then, they will take a look at the water heater and identify the extent of the damage before letting you know how much it will cost to repair or replace it.
Clicking Noise
The sound of clicking from inside the hot-water tank can indicate that sediment has built up in your water heater. Sediment is a standard element found in drinking water, but it is not supposed to be present in water that flows through your hot-water tank.
Sediment usually settles down at the bottom of the tank, so if it clogs the heating elements, you need to clean the sediment out. The easiest way to do this is by turning off the power supply and removing all filters before opening up your water heater.
Loud Gurgling Noise
Regular heat exchange takes place in the water heating tanks at a specific temperature interval. When this process is not happening correctly, you might hear a loud sound coming from inside your water tank.
If a cracking noise accompanies this gurgling or gushing sound, then it might mean that the tank has become weak. This would mean that your water heater no longer has its structural integrity and will need to be replaced with a new one immediately.
Bubbling Noise
A bubbling noise coming from the tank, combined with a faint hissing sound, can mean that air has entered your hot-water tank. This happens when the regulator is not set correctly, and too much water is entering it at a rapid rate. To solve this issue, you will need to get a new regulator valve for your water heater.
High-Pitched Whining Noise
A high-pitched whining sound coming from the tank is often caused by an overworked electrical element in your hot-water tank. The heating elements in these tanks are usually made of aluminum alloy with nichrome wire coils, which produce an electric current when heated up.
When this wire becomes overworked, it starts whining. The only plumbing solution to this problem is to replace the element with a new one.
Grinding Noise
A low-pitched grinding sound coming from your hot-water tank is indeed an indication that the elements are wearing off. This is dire because the element has reached the end of life and needs to be replaced immediately.
If you know how to do it yourself, replacing the worn-out element with a new one is easy. But if you are not equipped with such skills, then get in touch with local plumbers for water heater servicing and repairs, as they have years of experience dealing with such issues and will know how to do it safely.
Loud Hissing or Sizzling Noise
Your hot-water tank is more likely to make a hissing sound when the temperature of the water is too high and a sizzling sound when it is too low. These sounds are certainly not normal and need to be addressed right away.
The only solution to these issues is to replace the element with a new one or to adjust the temperature regulator settings. You can also increase or reduce water pressure inside your hot-water cylinder, but make sure you do it slowly.
Strange Sound Coming From Underneath
If there is some odd heater noise coming from the bottom underneath your tank, you might have problems with the drain line.
The tank usually comes with a drain valve that allows you to flush out sediments from time to time, but if it is clogged, then the pressure might build up inside the tank and cause strange sounds coming from underneath. A plumber will be able to clear away the sediment built-up in the drain line.
Tapping Noises
If you hear some sort of tapping noise coming from your water heater, then it is more than likely that sediment has built up inside. Sediment usually starts accumulating at the bottom of the tank where the heating elements are located. Therefore this is where you need to look first.
Water heaters can be noisy, but this is nothing to worry about. If there are no other unusual symptoms like smoke or heat coming out of the tank, it is safe to assume that it’s in good condition and no repairs will be required. However, if you hear any of the aforementioned sounds, you may want to have a professional examine it thoroughly, just in case.