If you’re hearing a water heater rumbling sound, you might be concerned that you’ll soon be out of hot water. You’re not sure if your water heater is functioning correctly and don’t know if it needs repair.

A rumbling noise coming from your water heater can be scary, but keep in mind that it may be caused by a number of things, ranging from minor annoyances to issues that require more significant repairs.

In any case, if your water heater rumbling noise has you worried, read on to discover some of the most common reasons for this type of sound.

Hard Water
If you have hard water in your home, hard water scale can accumulate inside your water heater’s tank. This can cause your hot water heater to overheat and make a rumbling sound. If this is the case, consider installing a water softener or whole-home water filtration system to reduce scale build-up.

Sediment Build-Up

As the water inside your hot water tank warms and expands, it moves through any sediment build-up that might have formed within your tank over the years, such as rust or other minerals. This layer of sediment traps water underneath it, where the water heats and bubbles up until it bursts through the sediment. As the boiling water escapes the layer of sediment, it creates the rumbling-like sound that you hear.

Beyond the annoying rumbling sound, these types of build-up can cause future issues with your equipment. Though hard water and sediment build-up are not immediately dangerous, over time they can cause your hot water heater’s tank to deteriorate until it eventually requires complete replacement. Additionally, any sediment built up inside the tank reduces the heat transfer inside, meaning that your water heater’s burner must work harder to produce hot water at your desired temperature. This decreases the efficiency of your unit and increases your energy bills.

To resolve your rumbling water heater problem, you can drain your hot water heater to remove the sediment. It is possible to flush the tank yourself, or you can call in a pro to do it for you quickly and safely if you are uncomfortable taking this on as a DIY task.

If you cannot diagnose your water heater rumbling noise, we recommend that you get in touch with an experienced emergency water heater repair professional to examine your hot water heater. Luckily, Evam Canada is on-call to solve any hot water heater problems. Contact us today to book an appointment or call 1-905-624-5544 so we can get your equipment running efficiently as soon as possible.