MOST COMMON CAUSE OF WATER HEATER NOISE

 

TRAPPED WATER

Boiling - banging and popping noise is heard; this may be dangerous and should be taken seriously; in most cases, your gas water heater has not been serviced (flushed one time a year as recommended) and now has a thick layer of hardened mineral deposits in the bottom of the tank trapping water under it. While your heater is fired up and heating, usually while washing clothes or taking a shower, this trapped water becomes superheated with temperatures extremely high, causing the water to boil, even creating steam; this is the noise you're hearing.

 

       CAUTION: many people have been severely scolded. 

 

BROKEN DIP TUBE OR ANODE ROD

A plastic dip tube and a metal anode rod are inside your water heater tank. Both are known to sometimes break apart and can move around, banging against the sides of the tank's walls. This has been known to occur in some older units, making popping and banging noise, usually while the water heater is in its heat cycle.

 

We recommend replacing any water heater that makes this kind of noise.

 

WHAT CAN HAPPEN?

The superheated water under the layer of mineral deposits (pancake layers) can suddenly rupture these layers, splitting them in half. The superheated water underneath will rapidly rise to the top of the tank, where it exits and travels through your piping. If a shower is being used at the time, it can and has caused severe injury.