Water heater noise?

Question

I have a gas water heater (Reliance 606). It was put in just before we moved into the house, so it is about 2 years old. Within the last couple weeks, it has started making a noise. The best I can describe it, is similar to the clanging sound you sometimes hear from a hot water heat radiator. From what I can tell, it usually happens when the water heater is heating. Any ideas what this is? Should I do anything with it?

Answer 1

it sounds like expansion and contraction, i dont think its anything to worry about

Answer 2

Reliance 606 Gas Water Heater

Answer 3

If you have a gas water heater, and it's making the popping sounds when it's heating, that's normal in high calcium, lime content water areas. It's not usually dangerous, just annoying, if your heater is close enough to the living areas that you can hear it easily when it calls for heat. Although the idea of draining your tank sounds good on paper, no gas water heater I've ever dealt with had a drain valve close enough to the actual bottom of the tank to be of much help if you COULD get the large chunks of lime to come out the small hole provided when you open the valve, which you can't. Electric units usually have a valve mounted much lower, closer to the bottom, but even with those uints, unless you have a 3/4" ball valve installed in place of the small boiler drain type thing that comes on them, the chunks that accumulate in a few months time will be too large to come out the opening. The ball valve, opens to provide a straight thru path, approx. the size of an adult male's thumb, and will let balls of calcium and lime come flowing out when it's time to drain. Any other type of drain is pretty much a waste of time and effort.

Answer 4

I agree with the others about the mineral buildup in the heater. The only thing I would like to add is that you may want to check the anode rod in the heater. This rod is designed to attract the minerals in the water so they don't attack the heater. It is usually located on the top. It looks like a bolt head. The only thing is, it is very long. Maybe about 3-4 feet, so you need head room to pull it out. Don't forget to turn off the water first :) . The other thing is to make sure it is the correct rod. Most of the heaters come with a rod for city water. The manufacturer should make one for well water if you have a private well and not city water. Good luck.

Answer 5

Yup... it sounds like gravel in the bottom tank. It happens with hard water going in to it, and eventually you develope calcium stones that get larger and larger as time goes on. When the heater goes on, the heat, (from the flame on the bottom), bubbles up through these stones, making that sound you hear. It's the stones making the sounds you hear.
I'm not aware of anything you can do about it now, it's too late!
The only way to minimize this build-up of stones is to drain your water heater every 3 or 4 months, (starting when it's new!).
Or, (a big expense), you could buy a water softener and aleviate the problem entirely, (again though, you'd need to start with a new water heater again!). And, water softeners waste A LOT of water!

Answer 6

It sounds like you live in an area with hard water. I would guess that you need to drain the water tank to get excess mineral deposits, that were left by the water, out of your tank. First turn the gas off to the water heater, hook a hose to the drain if you don't have a floor drain next to it. Next turn the water off to the tank, if you don't have valves on the inlet and outlet side of the tank you will need to turn the water off to the house. Drain the tank completely, then turn the water back on for a minute or so to help flush the gunk left inside. You may need to flush several times depending on what is coming out. Diconnect hose. Turn all water back on to fill tank. Turn the hot water on in a nearby sink to purge the air from the system. Relight pilot light. You should be good to go.

Answer 7

Ask the gas company if they would inspect your system for free.