hot water heater - making wierd sounds

Mark Hunt_4

10 years worth of calcium have built up in the tank and you are hearing steam "bubbles" imploding in the sediment bed.

You may want to consider a new water heater. There is no easy way to flush solid rock out of the unit.

Hope this helps.

Mark H

john_181

I just turned on the water and gas to one of my apartments and lit the water heater. Well anytime there is a call for water either HOT or COLD it sounds like the hot water tank is boiling, with all kinds of banging and thumping. I bled all the lines of air. The tank was installed in 1990. Any ideas here?

john_181

I plan on replacing it - I just am baffled on why its making noises-----scared the hell out of me when it started banging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark Hunt_4

Yep


I have heard quite a few do the rumble, some worse than others.

Best wishes!

Mark H

john_181

Is there a way to flush it out for now - until I can get to replacing it?

Mark Hunt_3

No


I can guarantee that the stuff in that tank is rock solid and probably a few inches thick.

Sorry.

Mark H

Marty_9

Go to waterheaterrescue.com for more information than you can ever use:)

Larry Weingarten

Mark: Years ago...

... I built a contraption for getting sediment out of tanks. It's basically a water based vacuum cleaner. I was curious to know what sediment from all over looked like so I have about 110, 4 oz vials of sediment. It comes in many nice colors and tells a story about what's been happening with the heater and plumbing.

I've cleaned something over 4000 heaters and only a handful of commercial heaters had hardened sediment. I think the higher temps and possibly high silica content helped solidify the sediment. Mostly the problem with noise now is aluminum anodes. They produce great quantities of jelatinous goo that sits on the bottom of the tank and cause boiling. It's possible to flush this light sediment out sometimes, with the right parts installed and good water pressure. There's a lot more info at www.waterheaterescue.com.

Yours, Larry

Big Ed

I Call it.......

......."The Death Rattle"

tim smith

Get a new one b4 it floods the area! Please