A water heater seems like an absolute necessity these days in most homes; it doesn’t matter if they are new, they are being rented out, or you’ve managed to own a house in this ever-increasing economy.
Not only do winters tend to get extremely cold, but if you don’t have a water heater, then it can make your life a living hell with the cold water you might have to face, or even worse, having to boil the water yourself to take a shower, which won’t even end up being comfortable overall.
For that reason alone, having an automatic or electric water heater is a crucial addition to most modern or traditional homes. It allows you to turn it on anytime you want, and it allows you to get other tasks done around the house while you know water is heating up for you within a few minutes.
However, if you want a comfortable showering experience, the last thing you need is a water heater that starts making loud noises, which can get irritating if you’re trying to wind down after a long day.
If that is your main worry, fret not. Our article aims to cover all the reasons why your water heater may make noises and solutions that can fix them!
Why A Water Heater Makes Noises
There are quite a few reasons why a brand new water heater that has just been installed or one that has been in use for a good few years may make noises. We will list them all below.
Mineral Buildup
If you aren’t already aware, the water you use to bathe with contains minerals. In addition, the water supplied by your company of choice will not always be distilled and may contain minerals and other elements when it reaches your home.
Over a few years, the minerals from the water tend to collect and deposit on the edges of the water heater. While this process may take a good few years since the mineral amount is minuscule, it still does solidify and can become a problem over time if it isn’t dealt with swiftly.
Pressure Changes
Moving on, water pressure is another reason your water heater may make unnecessary noises whenever it is turned on or while you are showering.
Typically, the flow of water is pretty stable. However, there can be times when, due to cold or hot temperatures or issues with the water heater, the water pressure can either go really high or really low. Not only can this affect the total pressure of water coming out of the faucets or the showerhead, but it can also cause banging sounds to occur.
The main reason is that water splashes against the insides of the water heater and slashes against it, making it sound way louder than it needs to be.
Metal Expansion
Next up, yet another major reason that you might not have taken note of is that metal expansion is another contributing factor to your water heater making banging sounds or noises that can become a nuisance.
As the water starts to heat up inside the water heater, the internal and external layers will boil up, too, causing the metal to expand. When it cools back down, it tends to make dents, which can then pop back up, causing noises.
The sounds can be louder based on the longevity of the water heater. If it’s older, it makes more sounds than if it was just bought new.
Gas Pressure
Moving on, another reason that you might not want to miss out is that gas pressure can be a contributing factor to water heating and making sounds.
As the gas is opened up or the gas pressure increases within the container, banging sounds or minor noises can occur as the valve is opened up or closed. It also fully depends on how high or low the gas pressure is.
If the gas pressure is lower, then the noise will be lower, too, and vice versa.
Solutions To Reduce Water Heater Noises
Now that you know what problems can arise when the water heater makes noises, there are quite a few solutions that you can try to reduce the total noise.
These include anything from adjusting the water pressure to installing insulation.
Water Pressure Adjustment
One of the first solutions is to address a problem that one continues to face day in and day out. And that basically includes the water pressure changing again and again.
The main solution to this issue is to adjust the total pressure at which the water flows through the pipes connected to the water heater and the pressure building up inside the heater.
The use of a pressure gauge can help a lot with the system.
Insulation Installation
Next, another way to reduce the noises that are irritating you is to add insulation to the water heater.
The main focus of the insulation would be to block out the noise, and this is a great last resort if you can’t solve the issue instantly.
Conclusion
Water heaters can make irritating noises if they are not maintained properly. However, with the right care, you can not only determine what issues are occurring within the water heater but also pinpoint the source of the noise and devise possible solutions.
If all things go wrong, then you can contact plumbing services in Philadelphia!