There are a variety of reasons why your water heater is making noise. None of them are good but some are worse than others. Keep reading to learn more.

You use over 60 gallons of hot water a day keeping your home clean. Without hot water to clean, salmonella and E. coli can make your family sick. Your water heater is an important part of fighting off common germs.

There are visual cues that the water heater needs repairs, like murky water. It’s not hard to spot rust on the outside of the water tank. 

But how do you know if there’s something wrong inside the water heater? Listen for the water heater making noise when it runs. 

Certain noises from the water heater are natural. This guide will show you which water heater noises mean you need to call a plumber.

SHOULD THE WATER HEATER MAKE A HISSING NOISE?

When your electric water heater cycles on, does it hiss or sizzle? Stand beside the water heater and listen to it run through a full cycle. If you hear noises that sound like cooking meat, your water heater needs maintenance.

The hissing noise comes from buildup on the heating element. A dirty element will wear out from heating through the debris. The part can be removed and cleaned or replaced.

Gas leaks make a hissing noise, as well. If you smell rotten eggs, seek emergency help.

REASONS BEHIND A HOT WATER HEATER MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE

The minerals in water settle in the water tank during the heating process. After a few months, those minerals turn into a thick sludge.

Whenever the heating element turns on, hot water pushes through the sludge. The force of the hot water makes a thumping noise in the water tank. As the cycle continues, the thumping may turn into a rumbling noise.

Prevent water heater sludge by flushing the tank once or twice a year. If you don’t know how to ask your local plumber to make a maintenance visit. Regular maintenance makes a water heater last longer than the usual 10 years.

WHY IS THE ELECTRIC HOT WATER HEATER MAKING A HUMMING NOISE?

Your electric water heater has vertical heating elements at the top and bottom. When it turns on, cold water circulates into the tank. The temperature change makes the water heater move.

When the heater shakes from the temperature change, it jostles the heating elements. After a while, the top heating element loosens, and the hum gets louder. 

A low hum isn’t something to worry about unless it gets louder. This could mean something else is wrong with the top heating element. 

If the humming bothers you, ask your plumber to tighten the heating element.  

A WATER HEATER MAKING NOISE IS A WARNING SIGN YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE

Water heaters are one of the most neglected appliances inside your home. They sit in a closet or basement, forgotten until something goes wrong. Neglecting the water heater can lead to a costly flood.

A water heater making noise signals that something isn’t right inside the tank. Most of the time the problem is mineral buildup or limescale. Take care of the sludge before it leads to a water heater leak.

Is your water heater making a knocking noise? The professionals at Acme Plumbing, Drain, & Septic Service are ready to help. 

Contact us 24/7 to take care of your water heater problems. We proudly serve the Indianapolis area every day of the year.