Your water heater is usually tucked away down in the basement or in a closet, so you probably don't hear it very often. But if you do hear noises coming from your water heater, you might hear some sounds that can get you worried.
Some of these sounds are legitimate reasons for concern and some are simply the normal noises that your water heater makes.
Here are some common sounds you might hear from your hot water heater and when you need to call someone for water heater repair in Springfield Missouri.
Popping Sounds
Over time, sediment can build up in a hot water heater. When the water is heated up, steam bubbles can form underneath it and start popping. If you hear popping sounds coming from your water heater, you may have a layer of sediment sitting at the bottom of your unit that needs to be cleaned out.
Sediment can slow down your water heater’s ability to heat or create costly clogs.
If you'd like to remove the sediment from your water heater on your own, drain your tank before chasing it with vinegar.
You can also install a water softener afterward to prevent sediment buildup in the future.
Or you can call the plumbing professionals at United Plumbing and we'll handle water heater repair for you.
Hissing Sounds
Steam bubbles popping aren’t the only sounds you may hear due to sediment buildup in your water heater. Water trapped underneath the sediment may escape as steam with a sharp hissing noise. Our advice for addressing popping sounds applies to hissing sounds as well.
Banging Sounds
When water changes direction quickly in your plumbing, it can make a banging sound, often referred to as a water hammer. The ill effects of water hammers may not seem obvious at first, but over time, they can jostle around your pipes and potentially cause them to loosen, leak, or burst. They can bang around and damage your water heater as well.
Try adjusting your water pressure (around 60 PSI is ideal). You may also consider draining your plumbing system to create air pockets that will absorb the shock of future water hammers or call a plumbing professional to take care of this problem for you.
Whistling Sounds
A whistling sound could mean that a valve on your water heater might not be fully open or closed. When water runs through that small opening, it can make a whistling noise. A valve that’s not fully opened or closed isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it could be annoying to listen to regularly.
Check your valves to make sure they’re properly adjusted one way or the other or you can call us to come take a look at it.
Humming Sounds
A heating element in your water heater may come loose and start vibrating, creating a low humming noise when the water heater is running. To fix this, simply tighten the element or have us come out for water heater repair and we can tighten it for you.
If your water heater is making any type of sounds and you want confirmation of what it might indicate, give United Plumbing a call. Our professional plumbers will determine the problem, if any, and have your hot water heater running good as new in no time.