If you hear strange noises coming from your water heater’s tank, sediment buildup and mineral deposits are likely to blame. Addressing a knocking sound in water heater systems is one of the most common requests people have for the plumbers at Roto-Rooter Columbia, TN. Discover what causes this issue and how experts can silence your water heater and make it work more efficiently.
Hearing a Knocking Sound in Water Heater Tanks: What Causes It and How To Fix It
It’s not normal for your water heater tank to make a knocking noise when it runs. While this problem seems serious, it’s likely just loose minerals from hard water and sediment buildup causing the sound. Flushing your water heater can stop the popping noise and extend the life of your system.
Minerals and Scale Collected in the Bottom of the Tank
Ask any plumber, “Why is my water heater making a knocking sound?” and they’ll tell you that the noises are likely steam bubbles. A normal heat cycle involves steam bubbles escaping the electric or gas water heater but when sediment forms, the bubbles have nowhere to go.
Flush Your Hot Water Heater
Did you know that trapped bubbles making a knocking sound can make a water heater explode? Plumbers address a knocking sound in water heater systems with the following steps:
- Shut off the power supply, find the water heater’s drain valve located at the top of the tank, and close the cold water valve.
- Connect a garden hose to a hot water faucet and let the hot water tap fill the unit as you safely drain the contents into a bucket or the basement drain.
- Fill the unit with cold water from the faucet before you restore power to the hot water heater.
This simple fix allows you to enjoy your hot water supply.
Schedule Routine Maintenance
Let a professional plumber flush the tank annually. This helps prevent sediment buildup and makes your unit last longer.
During a maintenance service, experts will also inspect every valve plus the anode rod. If scale inside the tank doesn’t cause a knocking noise, a broken anode rod or pressure relief valve usually causes issues. Other possible culprits include a faulty heating element or gas valve.
Your plumber will likely check if a leak repair is necessary and insulate the equipment around the tank. Insulation prevents frozen pipes and the water damage cleanup that comes with a pipe bursting.
Schedule Plumbing Service With Columbia’s Trusted Water Heater Experts
Fixing a knocking sound in water heater tanks is as simple as flushing dirty water out of the drain valve and filling it with cool water from a garden hose. The flushing process can prevent the problem from recurring but requires the help of a professional, which is where we come in.
At Roto-Rooter Columbia, TN, we specialize in both commercial and residential plumbing, water damage cleanup, and more. We’ll flush your gas or electric water heater to eliminate any knocking noise. To schedule a service, call (931) 330-2060 See how we can help.
