When Your Water Heater Malfunctions
When you have an appliance, like a hot water heater, installed in your home, you just expect it to do its job without complaint. So what should you do if your water heater starts malfunctioning? Luckily, there are easy ways to address most unwanted hot water heater behaviors.
Making Loud Rumbling Noises
Does your hot water heater make a loud rumbling or rattling noise when the burner turns on? It might sound like something is moving around inside the tank, and that's because it is. Even if your water looks clear, it does contain a small amount of sediment. Over time, this sediment sinks to the bottom of your water tank. The buildup can become pretty substantial to the point that you hear chunks of solids rattling when your tank turns on.
To quiet your hot water heater down, connect a hose to the drain valve, which is located at the bottom of the tank. Open the valve, and let a few gallons of water drain out. You should see the sediment in the water. Close the valve, disconnect the hose, and enjoy your much quieter water heater.
Letting Drops of Water Fall on the Floor
If your hot water heater looks like it spilled its drink on the floor, then it has a leak. The good news is that most hot water heater leaks occur in or around the valves. The temperature-pressure valve near the top of the tank could be leaking, or the drain valve at the bottom of the tank could be leaking.
This is a problem that a professional plumber should fix. They can determine which valve is leaking, and then fix it. This should keep your floors dry.
Whistling
If your hot water heater is making a whistling noise, that's not because it wants to join a band. It is, however, trying to get your attention. Whistling usually means air is escaping from the pressure relief valve, which means the pressure in your tank is too high for some reason. Have a plumber come take a look. They may need to adjust the fill level in the tank or adjust the temperature setting to keep the pressure in a safer range and stop the whistling.
If your hot water heater is malfunctioning, it just needs a little attention and care.
For more information about water heater repair, contact a company in your area that can help you.
Share