That knocking and rumbling sound you hear from your water heater tank is worrisome and indicates something is wrong with your system.
If you are asking the question of this blog, we know what is probably running through your mind under that concerned exterior: “Oh no, is my water heater going to pop?” The answer is, “No,” but we can’t guarantee that entirely, but the feat of a water heater explosion is all based on old steam-powered boilers and not real life. Your water heater is not a boiler, the water temperature is not being released to the boiling point, but even the boilers used for home heating are boilers today in their name only. However, that knocking and rumbling sound you hear from your water heater tank is worrisome and indicates something is wrong with your system. We recommend you call us for water heater services to investigate. Read on to learn more about a noisy water heater.
Possibilities for a Noisy Water Heater
The biggest possible cause for these concerning noises is that the water heater has picked up a bit of excess sediment inside the tank. Minerals in the water are often dissolved out of it during the heating process, and they settle across the very bottom of the tank over the heat exchanger. This is a spot where the water is heated up. The sediment build-up traps a layer of water under it, so when the water heats up, it percolates through all the sediment. This is the source of those rumbling noises.
Why Is This an Issue for My Water Heater?
So is this an actual issue? Yes. First, the sediment layer makes it a lot more challenging for the heat exchanger to effectively transfer heat into the tank, which causes a huge drop in the system’s energy efficiency. Secondly, the excess sediment will then increase your water pressure, raising the chance of leaking, and you don’t want your home water heater to start leaking.
Another potential source of the rumbling sound is a broken dip tube. The dip tube is the pipe that will carry cold water down through your tank towards the bottom, where it is released to be heated, after which it will rise toward the top of the tank to be pumped back out into the plumbing. Older water heaters will sometimes have their dip tubes broken, which releases cold water into the very top of the tank to mix with the hot water, making a rumbling noise. You will want to fix this quickly because it can lead to more problems and less hot water.
Get in Touch With B&D Today!
Dealing with any plumbing concerns that require a professional to step in? Struggling with an absolute plumbing emergency that can’t wait? Let B&D Plumbing know. B&D Plumbing Inc. services the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. Get in touch with us by calling (301) 595-1141 or follow us on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. As a small, family-owned business, we understand how important your home is—and we offer exceptional service that matches!