What’s That Sound Coming From My Water Heater?

Oh no! Is your water heater making unusual sounds? If so, you may be worried—and for good reason. Unusual sounds almost always point to problems with water heater operation. The big question is, what exactly is going wrong?

You can keep reading to learn about some common water heater noises and what each one means. Then you can give our team a call to schedule your water heater repair in Metairie. No matter what is wrong, we can get to the root cause, fix it, and prevent it from happening again.

Whistling Sounds

If your water heater starts to make a high-pitched whistling noise, that usually indicates an issue with pressure. Water heaters have special valves that help to alleviate pressure buildup inside the tank if it gets too high. If you hear a whistling sound once and never again, it’s probably not a big deal.

But if you hear a persistent whistling come from your water heater, that means pressure is too high. Allowing the situation to continue is keeping your water heater under unnecessary strain. It may not last as long because the problem is not being addressed.

Popping or Kettling Sounds

If it seems like your water heater is popping or sizzling when it heats up, that usually points to problems with hard water. This isn’t an issue with your water heater itself and is instead an issue with the water quality leading into your home.

Hard water has high mineral content, and even if you cannot see these minerals when you pour a glass of water, they can build up inside your water heater to create sediment. The sediment sits on the heating element and then stirs up when water is being heated, which results in the popping or clicking sound.

These minerals are abrasive and can wear down the inside lining of your water heater to make it more likely that rust develops, ultimately shortening the lifespan of your water heater. Ideally, you want to have your water heater flushed once per year to eliminate hard water buildup before it becomes too significant.

Rumbling

Your water heater has a dip tube that is designed to push cold water entering the tank to the bottom near the heating element. If this tube is broken, cold water may mix directly with the ultra-heated water closer to the top of the tank, resulting in a rumbling sound.

This may not seem like a huge deal, but it can result in water that is not as consistently hot as you may like. This can also negatively impact your energy costs by making your water heater work harder than necessary to heat up.

Natal's Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical. Service Honoring the Golden Rule.

Ryan Swafford

HVAC Operations Manager

My name is Ryan Swafford, I serve as the HVAC Operations Manager at Call Natal’s. With over 13 years of hands-on experience in the trades, I’ve had the privilege of working across both residential and specialized environments.

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