Is your water heater making a rumbling noise? Here’s what you need to do next.

You might think this strange sound you hear is nothing to worry about. It will go away eventually. Right? Not exactly. In fact, it’s time to call a plumber in Spring Valley, NV, and get to the bottom of the issue. The sooner you do this, better your water heater will run.

Why Water Heater’s Make a Rumbling Noise

First, we must say, there’s not one reason water heater’s do this. The reason for the sound could be anyone of the following problems:

• There’s too much cold water entering the tank at one time
• Sediment buildup is causing trapped water to boil
• The water is overheating because of sediment buildup

The good news is that each of these problems can be fixed and extend the lifespan of your water heater when addressed quickly. For sediment issues, you want to flush out the water heater.

Flushing a Water Heater

Although we recommend calling us for professional services, flushing out a water heater is something that homeowner’s can do themselves. It’s not the hardest thing to do, but it does take time. Below is a quick overview of the process, but is not intended to be an all-inclusive how-to.

To begin, you want to turn the power off to the water heater. For gas-powered water heaters, you need to turn the water heater’s gas control to the Pilot setting. Do not turn it off. This could cause a gas leak. For electric water heaters, turn the power off at the circuit breaker.

Next, you want to turn the water off to the water heater. Look for the lever at the top of the tank. Then, you need a garden hose, which you’ll connect to the drain valve on the water heater and place it in a basement drain. To encourage the water in the tank to start draining through the hose, you need to allow air into the system. Do this by turning on the hot water taps throughout the house. They’ll eventually run dry.

Once the tank has emptied – this will take several hours – remove the drain hose and complete the steps you took in the opposite order.

Flushing sediment from the water heater is something that should be done once every year. It’s the best way to extend the life of the water heater by preventing corrosion that can lead to a leaky tank.

Put an End to Water Heater Problems

Stop living with a noisy water heater. At Spring Valley Plumbing and Drain, we take care of all your water heater repair, maintenance, and other water heater services. Call us today schedule an appointment with one of our water heating experts.