Strange noises coming from any powered appliance is often a sign of trouble, and your water heater is no exception. When an unexpected sound starts to interrupt the standard operation of a water heater, you should call for professional technicians to look into the issue and see what needs to be done. Ignoring the problem puts you at risk of losing your hot water supply when the water heater breaks down.
Here are some of the more common noises that you may hear from a malfunctioning water heater. Please don’t try to do any close diagnosis yourself: call up a water heater repair service and describe the situation, and then let the professional technicians handle it from there.
Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning is on call 7 days a week to handle repairs for water heaters in Fresno. You can put your trust in our more than 60 years of quality service to the Central Valley.
Some Water Heater Warning Noises and What They May Mean
- Popping and banging sounds: Although these noises can be startling, they may simply indicate that you have the water pressure set too high. If that’s not the case, then the high pressure is coming from another source, such as the water overheating, and you will need to call for repairs from a technician.
- Rumbling: This often indicates that you have excessive levels of sediment at the bottom of the tank. Sediment gathers from particles in the incoming water (particularly if you have hard water), and unless the tank is regularly flushed, the sediment layer will decrease the volume in the tank and create that rumbling sound. Call for technicians to flush out the tank, which should take care of the problem. Another possibility is that a broken dip tube is causing the incoming cold water to mix with the hot water at the top of the tank. Technicians can replace the broken dip tube.
- Hissing and whistling: These are worrisome sounds, and for good reason: they indicate extreme high water pressure in the heater that could pose a danger. Call for a repair person immediately.
- Sound of constantly running water: This is often an issue with the pressure relief valve, which is designed to prevent spikes in water pressure by occasionally leaking out water. But if the relief valve breaks, it will start leaking water regularly and create this sound of constant running water. You will need professionals to replace the valve.
Sometimes, an odd sound from a water heater is normal, but you do not want to take any chances. Always call for professional repairs if you notice strange behavior from your water heater. At Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning, we offer full service for water heaters in Fresno, CA that includes repairs, installation, and maintenance, and we can handle whatever ails your water heater.
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Unlike heating and air conditioning systems, there’s no “season” for water heaters. The average water heater does more work during winter, but it still operates almost every day of the year to meet a household’s needs.