Every time my water heater is heating, I hear a loud rumbling noise and popping sound. What is this and how do I get rid of it?
The loud rumbling and popping noise can be caused by the following: • Low Water Pressure: Normally the water pressure should be around 65-75 PSI. If your water pressure is low (35-50 PSI) you may hear a rumbling noise. Contact your water department to verify adequate water pressure. • Sediment Build up: Sediment is caused by calcium carbonate. When calcium is heated, the deposits fall to the bottom of the tank. The rumbling noise comes from the steam bubbles in the water sitting between the sediment and the tank. Sediment creates a barrier between the main burner and the water which, in turn, causes more gas consumption (energy) to heat the water. This also overheats the metal tank which, over a period of time, can weaken the steel tank and damage the glass lining resulting in premature failure. More calcium deposits fall into the tank at higher temperature settings.
