4 Strange Sounds from Your Tank-Style Water Heater

January 16th, 2022

Cosmo here! You might remember that we recently wrote about sounds that furnaces can make. Well, it turns out that water heaters can make noise too, so listen up!

Listening to your water heater is a great way to stay on top of any mechanical problems that might be developing within the appliance. Here are some sounds you should keep an ear out for:

Popping Sounds

This is a relatively common noise for water heaters to make, (especially in areas with hard water). Popping is most likely a sign that mineral deposits and sediment have gathered at the bottom of the tank. When enough lime, calcium, sand, and other debris get into the tank through the water supply, water can get trapped under the buildup and start to boil. This can lead to serious issues, such as leaks and electrical malfunctions, if left unaddressed for too long. When you hear popping, calling a Mercer County, NJ plumber to flush out the tank is the best thing to do.

Screeching Sounds

This can occur when water flow is being restricted. Getting the water to flow freely again can be as simple as reopening the inlet valve.

Crackling Sounds

This most commonly happens in gas-powered water heaters when condensation gathers on the burner. Condensation in small amounts won’t necessarily be an issue, but if there’s too much condensation, water can run down the flue tube onto the main burner, causing a pilot light outage. This issue is more common in undersized heaters – as these heaters struggle to meet demand for hot water and heat up and cool down frequently, these changes in temperature lead to condensation.

Sizzling Sounds

Sizzling from a water heater is a sign of a possible leak – the sound results from water dripping onto the burner. If there’s a leak, you may see a puddle of water around the water heater, or you may even lose access to hot water. If you suspect a water heater leak, don’t try to fix it by yourself or wait for the problem to go away by itself, because it won’t. Call a plumber to stop wasting water and energy, heating water you can’t use.

Although noises are subjective and can be difficult for the untrained ear to identify or describe, you should still trust your ears if they tell you there’s a problem. Noises can be symptoms of leaks and other issues that require water heater repair. In the Princeton, NJ area, the company to call to fix problems like this is SG Heating & Air Conditioning LLC.

Contact us today using this form or by calling 609-448-1273!

Sounds good to me! When your water heater is making weird noises, we can fix it…and that should be music to your ears! Woof!