Water Heater Making Noise? | Causes & Troubleshooting Tips

After hearing these weird sounds from your unit, you may have no idea what’s going on. While these annoying sounds are frustrating to deal with, you also don’t know if your water heater is broken or damaged.

If you have a water heater making noise, such as a rumbling or popping sound, it usually means there's sediment buildup inside the tank. This is produced by the minerals from the hard water. Sediment buildup may also be caused by other particles found in your water supply. When you hear a popping sound, that's caused by the boiling water under the sediment. 

If there’s too much sediment in your tank, it can lead to:

• Leaks: When there’s excessive sediment, that slows the transfer of heat from the gas burner to the water. This can lead to the water heater becoming too hot, which can cause harm to the inner lining of the tank. Over time, this can cause a leak.
• Electrical damage: If you have an electric water heater, too much sediment can block the unit’s heating element. This can cause it to burn out over time.



As the efficiency of a water heater decreases, it’s important to properly maintain your unit. Additionally, proper maintenance can help prevent a costly leak, which could save you thousands.

Water Heater Making Noise—What’s the Solution?

If you keep hearing strange noises from your water heater, draining and flushing the unit could fix the problem. Luckily, the process only involves 10 simple steps. You can also contact a water heater professional to tackle the job for you.

Follow these steps carefully to prevent damage to your water heater:

1. Power off the water heater



• Electric models can be turned off at the circuit breaker.
• For gas heaters, turn the gas switch to the “pilot” position.

1. Move the cold water supply lever to a 90-degree angle. This prevents water from entering the system.
2. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve.
3. Move the other end of the hose to a safe area where you can drain the hot water. Homeowners usually place the hose outside.
4. Open the pressure relief valve and turn on hot water at a faucet in your home. This allows water to flow through the hose. 
5. Open the drain valve, then watch for dirty hot water flowing from the hose. Make sure you’re careful since the water can be very hot. 
6. Once the draining process is complete, it’s time to flush the tank. If the pressure relief valve was opened, make sure to close it. Then, turn the cold water supply lever to its original “open” position. Next, turn it back to the “closed” position, and do this process a few times. This helps to flush out any sediment found at the bottom of the water heater tank. Keep doing this process until the water runs clear. 
7. Close the drain valve and remove the hose from the unit.
8. Move the cold water supply lever until it’s in line with the cold water inlet pipe. The water heater will then fill up with water, which typically takes about 10 minutes. Also, make sure to turn on a hot water faucet in your home to help with the pressure. After you notice clear water instead of a cloudy-water mixture, turn off the hot water faucet.
9. Turn the water heater back on at either your circuit breaker box or at the gas line setting on your unit.

Preventing Sediment Buildup