Electric Water Heater Popping Noise

Water flowing around the element can cause vibrations in this situation creating a humming noise.

Electric water heater popping noise. Your water heater s heating element is at the bottom of the tank right where the sediment has settled and mixed with water. If your electric water heater is making a popping noise there s a good chance that the sediment build up at the bottom of the tank has buried the lower heating element. When these deposits heat up steam builds up in them and then the popping sound occurs. Tighten the element slightly to correct the problem.

Popping sound inside the heater is the result of hard water and sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank and unit s components. If you don t the flush the tank the water heater s efficiency will drop and in the long run the tank can deteriorate and spring a leak meaning you ll need to replace the water heater. Apart from this model other types of heaters also have this issue. The element in an electric water heater is commonly placed vertical in relation to the tank.

Water heaters often make popping or gurgling sounds over a number of year s sediment scale mineral and lime deposits gather on the bottom area of the water heater tank. It s just like how boiling water in covered pot on the stove starts pushing up the pot s top. The popping noise comes from the water trapped under the mineral deposits. The water heater tank has sediment scale build up minerals from hard water.

The steam bubbles would develop under the sediments and explode making such a sound. When the water becomes trapped under these build ups and the water become hot from the electric elements or the gas burners under the tank going on you may hear a popping cracking or gurgling sound. A water heater making bubbling noise can be traced to debris. This could mean you have excess calcium magnesium and other trace amounts of other materials which have settled at the bottom of your water heater.

This condition can also make sounds of crackling sizzling or hissing. Your water heater is making a popping rumbling noise. It is not dangerous but may be annoying at times. The popping noise is steam bubbles escaping the sediment.

An electric water heater making noise problem happens in many homes. For a water heater making noises like water running then you will have to check for leaks. Similar to a popping sound your water heater making gurgling noise is more than likely due to mineral buildup in the bottom of the tank.