Your hot water heater should not be the noisiest appliance in your house. If your hot water heater is making a lot of noise it has a problem that needs to be fixed. Below we explore the most common problems that can cause a noisy hot water heater.
Low rumbling noise
If your hot water heater is making a low rumbling noise the most likely cause is water boiling inside of it. The water inside of your hot water heater should not be boiling. This is way too hot and is a serious issue. Water that hot could cause bodily harm or death.
First, check to make sure the thermostat isn’t set too high. Then verify that your hot water heater thermostat is set in the range of 110 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
The other more likely cause of water boiling inside of your hot water heater is sediment buildup. This can be treated by flushing (draining) the hot water heater. Flushing (draining) a hot water heater is not a very complicated process. Simply hook a water hose up to the drain nozzle at the bottom of the hot water heater and turn the release valve handle.
High pitched noise
The most common reason a hot water heater makes a high pitched noise is sentiment build up on the heating elements. Treating this can be pretty simple.
Drain the hot water heater and clean the tank and elements. If this doesn’t fix the problem you can install new heating elements. Low Wattage Heating elements with large surface areas are recommended.
Hopefully, this will help you get rid of those annoying noises. Your hot water heater should be a quiet appliance and not the noisiest thing in your house.
