STORM2K

My hot water heater is making some weird noises...it sounds like the water is bubbling or something. And from the upstairs it sounds like somebody is beating on a base drum...like every 10-20 seconds.

Any thoughts?

I'd go and make sure that it's not leaking. I'd also check the temperature dial to make sure it's not all the way on "Hot". It should be somewhere in the middle. Is your water REALLY HOT when you turn on the hot water valve?

I'm not a plumber, so I really don't know what it could be, but if there's something wrong, I'm sure you'd notice is right away when you look at it.

Good luck!

Colin, I talked to my brother, and, he said
that it sounds like a bursted pipe. Need to get
it checked, buddy!

Colin, when was the last time you drained it? Do you have hard water? If so, could be mineral buildup. Here in Texas we got some HARD water and my water heater sounds just like yours. We usually flush and drain it out once a year. But I ain't a plumber.......

Thanks guys...it's really old, so that may be the reason in itself. We'll probably get a plumber sometime next week...I don't see it leaking anywhere, and I don't think it's a bursted pipe.

Thanks a bunch both of you!

HWH's are not something to "nurse" along. (No pun intended Breeze) If it's going bad, get a new one. Especially, so, if it's gas fired.

Oh, Ed, do I sound so "nursey"?

breeze wrote:Oh, Ed, do I sound so "nursey"?

How about for neurologically-challenged plumbers?

Neurologically challenged? lol

WELL.....First off, it's NOT a "Hot Water" heater "LOL!" I mean, if the water WHERE HOT, then WHY heat it? It's a "WATER HEATER!" "LOL!" Sorry......I had some old fart a coupla years ago tell me that, I called it a HOT WATER HEATER!

NOW...all joking aside, it *sounds* like it's fixin' to take a major dump, I normally replace a water heater every 5 years if needed or not, just a rule of thumb I *try* to follow.

Dennis

I was thinking the same thing Dennis!! Why heat water if it's already hot? Seriously though, it most likely sediment build-up which causes noise, sometimes enough noise to annoy, or even frighten, people if the tank is inside the house. The noise is caused by small amounts of water under the sediment layer turning to steam bubbles, which then collapse violently.

It is funny about so much of our English language!

Parkway - What you drive on...

Driveway - What you park on...

Hot water heaters, cold cash, frozen assets....etc etc.

Eric

Why do they people say Butterfly's.. they should say Flutterby's.

Sounds like the element is going to go. Have a Plummer check it out. Good Luck

It's called a boiler in some parts of the country.

Hook up a garden hose to the drain valve and let the tank drain (be sure to have the other end of the hose in a tub or commode BEFORE you open the valve). Wait for another flush of water from the intake to cleanse out the last bit of sediment before closing the valve.

And like Stephanie said, check the temp also.

Finally, check the relief valve and make sure everything is tight.