Noisy Water Heaters and How To Fix Them

8/28/2018 (Permalink)

Air mover on a water damage in a Levittown, PA hospital

If you’ve ever used hot water in your home, then you have a functioning water heater. However, these appliances can often become noisy. Here are a few facts about these machines and how you can fix them.

What Is a Water Heater?

This appliance is a large tank that can usually hold about 50 gallons of water. Along with a drain valve, cold water pipe, and a hot water outlet, this machine is the perfect contraption for getting hot water on demand.
Water within the tank gets heated by a source of heat from the bottom. The heater is completely insulated, so no heat escapes into the outside world. Instead, it directly warms up the water. When you turn on a hot water tap, the water gets sent through the pipes to the running faucet.

Why Is It Noisy?
If you continually hear noises coming from your heater, there are two common reasons that might explain this:

1. The heating element is deteriorating and becoming less efficient.
2. Sediment is being burned up by the heating element.

Both reasons require action on your part. If the heating element is deteriorating, it’s probably time to replace it. If sediment is being burned up, it’s a good idea to remove it.

How Can Sediment Be Removed?
Sediment in the water heater not only makes it noisy but can be harmful to the appliance. When dirt and debris build-up, pipes can be blocked and can prevent you from getting hot water quickly. Build-up can also lead to water damage if the insulation is damaged by the sediment.
To remove sediment, you will have to empty the tank. Once it is completely empty, open the cold-water valve and fill it halfway. The stream of cold water will likely rinse and remove sediment. Use the water heater flush valve to drain the water and repeat until all sediment has been removed.
After you have successfully washed away all sediment, your water heater in Levittown, PA, should work quietly and efficiently.