Dixie2
join:2008-10-24
Palatine, IL
|  Hot water heater making strange noise?
Over the past week, I have noticed the hot water heater has been making very strange noises. It is like a banging noise (best way to describe is it sounds like something in the there hitting the walls of the tank)or maybe like a popping noise.It is pretty loud. Being gas run, it is making us nervous. It has never done this in the past in the 2 years we have lived here. It is also very random when it occurs.
Would anyone by chance know what this could be, or is it something to worry about?
Thank you.
Jim and Dixie |
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TheMG
join:2007-09-04
Edmonton, AB
 ·TELUS
| Does it happen when the burner fires up or totally randomly?
Two possibilities I can think of is a dirty burner or weak pilot light causing delayed ignition, resulting in the "pop" when the gas ignites. Could also be the metal expanding/contracting when the temperature changes. |
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tp0d
yabbazooie
Premium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
| This is thermal expansion of the tank against the insulation, and also moving against the glass lining inside the tank.
Sounds like you either have no thermal expansion tank (smaller tank above the heater, usually mounted on the cold side). This tank has a rubber bladder inside that takes up the excess water caused by the heating process (water expands when heated)
This noise can also be caused by a buildup of lime/etc on the base of the tank, and when the burner fires, it flashes the water between the lime and the bottom of the tank to steam. This causes the pop noise.
I recommend power flushing the bottom of the heater. Put a garden hose on the drain valve, then run it outside, or into the floor drain. If in a floor drain, secure it so it doesnt firehose around. Then, with the cold water on, open the drain valve for a few seconds, then close, and repeat 3-4 times. This will clear some of the buildup, but not all.
Definetly investigate the expansion tank. It will add life to your water heater.
good luck
-j |
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Dixie2
join:2008-10-24
Palatine, IL
| reply to Dixie2
after listening to it somemore, it is definatly a "banging sound" Is it possible that the water being used in it could cause a problem> The reason I am asking that is because in our toilet and bathtub, there is always rust spots from the water. So much that i can not keep up with it. Could the same thing be happening in the water heater? I can actually see on one of the valves attached to it has quite a bit of rust, and looked like possibly a leak as a result. Now this really concerns me (I did not see that before). Maybe we should just call a pro to come look at it. Does anyone see any safety issues in the mean time. Gas run anything makes me very nervous. The furnace is very very close to the water heater, which is also gas run. Thank you for any help you may have.
Jim and Dixie |
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Dixie2
join:2008-10-24
Palatine, IL
| reply to tp0d
said by tp0d  :Sounds like you either have no thermal expansion tank (smaller tank above the heater, usually mounted on the cold side). This tank has a rubber bladder inside that takes up the excess water caused by the heating process (water expands when heated) There is nothing on top of the water heater. Just some aluminum pipes that lead up? Is it normal to see "brown" burn looking spots on this? It does not look right either. It is over one of the metal factor tags, in fact you can not even read it anymore because it is "brown".
Thank you for your help as my husband and myself do not know much about these types of issues.
Thank you
Jim and Dixie |
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Dixie2
join:2008-10-24
Palatine, IL
| reply to TheMG
said by TheMG :Does it happen when the burner fires up or totally randomly? Seems to be totally random. I just ran the hot water from the faucet and no more noise as of yet. Maybe I did not give it enough time. I will let the water run longer to see if I can pinpoint it. Thanks!
Jim and Dixie |
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Langning
Premium
join:2003-04-28
Marlborough, MA | reply to Dixie2
Maybe you should read up and check on the Temperature Pressure Relief Valve. I had to replace mine because of buildups inside the valve. The last thing you want is a failed TPR valve. It is under $10 and it needed a pipe wrench to install. |
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TheMG
join:2007-09-04
Edmonton, AB
·TELUS
| said by Langning :The last thing you want is a failed TPR valve. »ca.youtube.com/watch?v=pu3FwgIHsQA |
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BurntCricket
Gotta Do What Ya Gotta Do
Premium
join:2000-09-02
Here
clubs:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | reply to Langning
Every TPR valve I have seen fail, failed in the open position, not this isn't a disaster but the tank will not explode.
I believe the copper or PVC pipes would fail long before the tank exploded.
Remember, on Myth Busters they had to intentionally make the tank explode. It was really cool too, I was as tickled with it as Adam was. I think their cement truck explosion was their best.
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It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. |
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TheMG
join:2007-09-04
Edmonton, AB
·TELUS
| Yeah, the only circumstance under which a stuck closed TPR valve will cause an explosion is if there is nowhere for the excess pressure to go. Say the cold water supply valve was shut and the faucets could actually withstand the pressure.
Unlikely scenario but I guess it has happened before. This could of course be more likely with a weak tank such as one that is rusted.
Anyways, don't be scared by all this, your tank won't explode. |
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tp0d
yabbazooie
Premium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | Actually the excess pressure will find its way out of the system in a number of places. I have personally seen excess pressure lift the seats off of Delta faucets, push open toilet fill valves, and blow washing machine lines right off the wall. Most of this stuff happens right around 170psi.
I have also seen relief valves rusted shut, they will do this over a long period of slow leaking, as the spring and seat inside are steel.
I have also seen the flue lines collapsed in a gas heater, where it smooshes the hot and cold lines either together or apart.
PVC piping will fail long before copper. PVC will go at approx 160psi at 125F, less when hotter. Copper can make 3-400 with good joints, more if you have L or K grade copper.
-j |
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tp0d
yabbazooie
Premium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Dixie2
said by Dixie2 :said by tp0d :Sounds like you either have no thermal expansion tank (smaller tank above the heater, usually mounted on the cold side). This tank has a rubber bladder inside that takes up the excess water caused by the heating process (water expands when heated) There is nothing on top of the water heater. Just some aluminum pipes that lead up? Is it normal to see "brown" burn looking spots on this? It does not look right either. It is over one of the metal factor tags, in fact you can not even read it anymore because it is "brown". Thank you for your help as my husband and myself do not know much about these types of issues. Thank you Jim and Dixie brown spots? hmmm.. doesnt sound bad, but can you get a picture of it on here? pictures say so many words...
have you tried flushing the tank out? That should be done yearly anyways, all it costs is a few gallons..
-j
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if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!) |
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Smith6612
Premium
join:2008-02-01
united state | reply to TheMG
Woah, lol. That's some crazy stuff there. Gottta love the MythBusters though! |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to TheMG
OT, but since we went this way, there have to be two simultaneous failures in order for a tank to lift-off.
First, the tank thermostat has to fail in the ON mode, and not shut off the fuel source, AND, the T&P valve has to be faulty.
Excess pressure alone will rupture a tank or connected plumbing, but not catastrophically.
In order to have a spectacular failure, the water in the tank has to be above the boiling point and under pressure. When the pressure is finally relieved or the water becomes hot enough, the superheated water instantaneously flashes to steam at a ratio of 1700 : 1.
Each gallon of water expands and becomes 1700 gallons of steam.
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~Help Find a Cure for Cancer~
~Proud Member of Team Discovery ~ |
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