How Do I Stop My Water Heater From Making Noise?

Your water heater is a vital part of life at home, from creating hot water for warm showers to washing dishes or doing the laundry. Unfortunately, since the heating unit takes on such a heavy workload, water heater issues are a common occurrence. Many of these problems also come with odd noises.

How do I stop my water heater from making noise? If you notice strange noises coming from your hot water heater, there may be a deeper problem than just an annoying tapping or humming.

In this guide, Babe Plumbing outlines eight of the most common sounds that water heaters make and how to stop them. The contractors can help with your water heater issues and other services, including tankless water heater service in Minnesota.

What Causes Water Heater Noises?

Hearing your water heater make strange noises may raise some alarms, but it isn’t always a cause for concern. How can you tell the difference between noises that come with normal functioning and those that indicate an underlying issue? The key is whether or not the noise is a new one.

Anytime your unit makes new sounds, it calls for an evaluation. If something's changed within your system, water heater repair could be in order.

8 Common Water Heater Noises and How To Stop Them

Water heaters make a wide variety of noises. The following are some common sounds water heaters make and what they could mean:

#1: Whistling

Is there a high-pitched whistle coming from your water heater? The noise indicates a faulty valve somewhere in the unit. This whistling sound typically comes from pressurized water being forced through a small space, such as a valve not fully opening.

If you have a malfunctioning valve, leave the replacement process to the professionals. Accessing water heater valves comes with a high risk of steam burns when mishandled.

#2: Popping

A popping noise coming from your water heater usually happens with sediment buildup, a normal occurrence in hot water heaters. Mineral deposits form a layer over the water. As the water heats up, steam bubbles break through that layer, making a distinct popping sound. 

Homes with hard water are more likely to have sediment buildup in their hot water tanks. Removing this buildup is easy. Professionals like Babe Plumbing will usually recommend using a descaling product for mineral buildup.

How do I stop my water heater from making noise if the descaling doesn't work? The next step in this process would be to remove all of the sediment by flushing and draining the water heater tank, which is quite a big job.

#3: Tapping

Tapping sounds are a fairly common noise stemming from two possible water heater problems: valve malfunctions and sediment buildup.

To resolve tapping noises, the professionals will check for sediment buildup first, which is an easy fix, thanks to descaling products. If valves are the likely culprit, a plumbing professional will need to do a valve adjustment while taking the proper safety precautions.

#4: Humming

Humming is not the normal noise your water heater makes while it’s working. Instead, these unusual sounds will often come from loose elements within the unit, which vibrate as water moves. When you hear a new humming noise, call a plumbing professional to come and open your unit so that they can tighten any loose components.

#5: Screeching

Similar to whistling sounds, screeching indicates a valve malfunction. The water within a hot water heater tank reaches very high pressure. When a valve doesn't open fully, this pressurized water will force its way through any small opening, causing a loud screeching sound.

For safety purposes, never adjust or repair water heater valves on your own. Steam burns surprisingly quickly, so always contact an experienced local plumbing professional for the job.

#6: Knocking

If you're hearing knocking or hammering sounds coming from your heater, a likely cause could be water smashing into shutoff valves too fast. It's not a serious issue, but it's disconcerting. In this case, installing a water hammer arrestor could reduce this sound by absorbing the shock of the water; these pieces are easy to install.

Another possible factor behind knocking sounds could be sediment pieces moving around within the tank. In this case, descaling or draining the tank should get rid of the noise.

#7: Vibrating

Does your water heater make a strange buzzing or vibrating sound? Sediment buildup could be the likely culprit if mineral deposits are shifting around within the tank. You’ll probably only hear this vibration when you’re near the unit, though. 

Like the other sounds, removing the sediment or cleaning out the tank with descaling agents is a great solution for sediment-related vibrations.

#8: Running Water

Hearing running water coming from your hot water heater is normal, as it means that your well-functioning unit is doing exactly what it's supposed to. 

In other instances, running water noises may come from a leaking water heater. Check for water around the exterior of the unit or pooling. Water heater leaks require professional repair or replacement as soon as possible, so don’t wait to call a plumbing technician for help.

Do Water Heater Noises Mean I Need a New Unit?

Many water heater noises stem from simple issues and don't call for a major replacement job. A local plumber can resolve the noise in most cases. Still, an evaluation from a water heater specialist is often the only way to confirm your water heater is still functioning well when you hear odd noises coming from it, so be sure to schedule service.

Mankato, MN, Water Heater Repair from Babe Plumbing

How do I stop my water heater from making noise? Call the professionals at Babe Plumbing! Our highly skilled plumbers address the following and more:

• All kinds of water heater issues
• Valve adjustments
• Sediment removal
• Services to replace a water heater before it fails

We also work with any type of unit, including electric water heaters and gas-powered heaters. 

Whether you need everyday or emergency plumbing services in Mankato, MN, you can count on Babe Plumbing. Call us at 507-443-3427 today!