A broken water heater can create a large pool of water, which creates a serious electrical hazard. Additionally, your water heater's electric or gas heating element may continue to run after the tank fails, which could start a fire.
Even if the problem starts small, a crack or spot of rust can quickly lead to tank leaks if you aren't careful. As we've already mentioned, a leaking water heater is an emergency and should be handled with a sense of urgency.
The popping noise comes from water that is boiling underneath the sediment. While the noise itself is harmless, too much sediment can: Eventually cause a leak—Sediment slows heat transfer from the gas burner to the water.
This extreme system failure can cause extensive damage to the home and its plumbing system, and the force of an exploding hot water heater tank has the potential to injure or kill occupants.
A water heater leak is more of an inconvenience than a danger, but it can lead to problems if not taken care of promptly. As previously mentioned, standing water can cause property damage. In severe cases, this could cause structural damage to your home.
A leaky water heater should always be taken seriously. Showering is probably safe if your heater has only recently begun to leak. Once you have taken your shower, it's best to call a plumber to remedy the problem. Depending on what is causing the leak, you might be able to fix it yourself at times.
Thanks to modern safety features and regulations, water heater explosions are rare. In 2022, 108 incidents involving hot water heaters were reported to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, the average storage-type water heater only lasts about 10 years. By the 9-year mark, more than 40 percent have burst, and just 6 years after setting up your new model, there's still a 15 percent chance it will explode all over your basement.
Bad Thermostats
The thermostat's role is to regulate the water temperature inside the tank. If a thermostat is malfunctioning, it can cause the water heater to overheat, leading to a circuit overload and tripping the breaker.
Expect a pro to charge you between $75 and $200 to come to your home to flush your water heater, depending on where you live. While this cost deters many homeowners from performing this annual maintenance, it can extend the water heater's lifespan by years, making it worth the additional cost.
If you hear loud cracks, whines, bangs, or gurgling, something is amiss. A water heater should not be making any noticeable noise when functioning correctly. A rumbling or clanking sound could mean sediment is gathering within your unit, making it hard for your water heater to warm its contents properly.
As mentioned earlier, in many cases, it's safe to shower even if your water heater is leaking. Small leaks typically don't affect the performance of the water heater, and you can continue to use hot water as normal until the leak is fixed.
A water heater explosion can cause significant damage to your home, and thankfully, most homeowners insurance policies do cover such events. However, the coverage may be subject to certain conditions, such as proper maintenance and adherence to safety codes.
When this happens, you can usually solve the problem by flushing the water tank out. However, if banging, cracking, popping, or rumbling noises persist, you should call a technician, as you may be experiencing a more complicated and dangerous issue in the tank, potentially requiring you to replace your whole system.
A burst pipe will send water flooding into your home. Locate the main water supply and shut it off to stop the flow of water, preventing additional damage. Leave the faucets on to fully drain the pipe and relieve any remaining pressure, and flush all toilets.
You should always keep safety top of mind regarding water heaters. A water heater leak can turn into an emergency situation. In rare circumstances, the buildup of water pressure can lead to an explosion. While uncommon, you must still take a water heater leak seriously since it must be repaired or replaced.
Heating elements can gradual breakdown if there is a mineral build up in the heating system. This is because mineral deposits can solidify, encasing the elements and forcing it to work harder to heat the water. This will lead to gradual wear out that will make the heating system have a shorter life span.
Warning Signs Your Water Heater Needs Replacement
A completely drained and non-functioning tank. Faulty pressure relief valve. Loud rumbling or banging noises. Rotten egg smells indicating potential gas leak.
Based on the manufacturer's suggested service life, the average life expectancy of a water heater is about 8 to 12 years. That varies with the location and design of the unit, quality of installation, maintenance schedule and water quality.
Water Heaters don't “burst” generally speaking because of the built in safeties in the system, pressure relief, overheat shutoff etc. So generally what happens is that it starts to leak slowly at first and then faster until you step in water on the floor and realize something is wrong.
What Is Causing a Popping Sound in My Water Heater? Minerals and other particles in your water supply can cause sediment and scale buildup. The popping noise comes from boiling water beneath the sediment. While the noise is not dangerous, excessive sediment can result in several problems for your water heater.