The popping sounds you hear after flushing is created by bubbles of hot steam escaping the layer of sediment when your water heater is doing its job.
Popping noises are usually a sign you need to flush your water heater tank. We recommend calling a professional to flush your tank at least once a year to prevent sediment build-up.
To fix it, consider installing water hammer arrestors, securing loose pipes, checking and replacing faucet washers, bleeding air from pipes, inspecting water supply lines, draining the air chamber, or flushing the water heater. If the problem persists, consult a plumber.
Popping, like rumbling, is most often caused by limescale and sediment build-up within the tank. The sound is created when steam bubbles form under the sediment, then burst as the water heats up.
After you've drained your hot water tank, you can pour a gallon or so of vinegar through it. To ensure the tank gets a thorough soak (try for 6 hours), close the drain valve before introducing the vinegar. Before you restore power to the unit, flush all the vinegar out. Keep it at the right temperature.
On average, flushing a water heater takes about one to two hours, depending on the tank size and the amount of sediment to be removed. This is slightly longer than it takes to drain the tank as you add another step to the process.
You may be wondering, “Why is my water heater making a popping sound?” If your water heater is making a popping, vibrating, or rumbling noise, the likely reason is that there is sediment or scale buildup on the inside of the tank. One of the most common sounds a water heater can make is a popping noise.
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. Sediment buildup can slow heat transfer and cause overheating, damaging the inner lining and steel tank and ultimately resulting in a leak.
If the knocking sound continues after you flush the tank, your hot water heater likely has a bigger problem than sediment buildup. One of these three things might be the culprit: Faulty gas valve or pilot light. Faulty thermocouple or thermostat.
If you flush a water heater that already has a significant sediment buildup, it can actually cause more problems. Excessive or large sediment pieces can get stuck in the tank drain valve, or end up exiting the water heater and going through the pipes in your home – and neither of those is an easy fix.
Signs Your Water Heater Needs Repair
If any of the following is happening along with the knocking, it's time to call Schaafsma: Knocking, banging, or popping sounds can mean sediment buildup, water hammer, or heat trap issues. Inconsistent water temperatures or a lack of hot water.
Popping or Banging
There could be a few reasons why heaters make this sound, like dirty burners that need cleaning, or an excessive amount of gas inside the chambers. If you hear a banging or popping sound when the heater shuts off, it could mean your ductwork is contracting as the metal cools down.
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.
Answer. The temperature and pressure relief valve is a safety device that is installed at the factory. It is designed to open on a residential water heater, for your protection, when there is excessive water temperature or excessive water pressure.
That popping noise probably means there's sediment at the bottom of your water heater tank. The solution? Simple—the tank just needs flushing. You can either flush the tank yourself or call a professional plumber to do it for you.
Bleeding your radiators will release any air that may be trapped inside. When air gets into your heating system, it can cause a banging noise because it increases the pressure in the system. Releasing pressure by bleeding the pipes of excess air can stop the banging noise from occurring.
Your HVAC system may keep tripping the circuit breaker because: Your air filters are clogged. Your HVAC system has a refrigerant leak. Your HVAC's capacitor or motor is broken.
Why is Your Water Heater Making The Gurgling Noise? The main cause of the gurgling sound coming from the water heater comes from the Sediment and mineral build-up inside the Water tank. This is common in older water heaters as they tend to get rusty and develop grains inside them.
Open the drain valve and insert the wire into the tank. Move it around a bit in order to loosen any debris or sediment that may have formed around the drain. Back-Flush The Drain: the idea here is to use water to push sediment away from the drain valve so that your tank can drain freely.
Remember, there are really no downsides to flushing a water heater. Sediment build-up causes damage and it is more expensive to leave it and let it build than to just flush it out regularly.
If the sediment is not removed, it can cause leaking, cold showers, odd noises, and even shorten the lifespan of your water heater. Depending on the mineral content of your local water supply, sediment may build up over the course of a year, or five years.