If your water heater sounds like a tea kettle, it could mean that something is wrong. Is it dangerous to have a water heater that is kettling? If your water heater starts to sound like a tea kettle, it might not break down right away, but it’s still a sign that something is wrong.
Most of the time, a whistling water heater is caused by a specific problem that is easy to avoid. But kettling is a sign that you need to call a professional to check out your water heater and make any repairs that are needed.
Sounds from a water heater that you can’t ignore
You might not notice at first when your water heater starts to make noises. But it will be hard to ignore louder sounds, especially if you know that they mean trouble.
Strange noises coming from your water heater may be an early sign that it needs to be fixed. Here are the top three things to be aware of:
Kettling
The only thing in your home that should make a high-pitched whistle is your tea kettle. If your water heater is making this sound, get it fixed as soon as possible. Problems that make it hard for water to flow through your home cause kettling.
Rumbling
When your water heater starts to heat up, you may hear a rumbling sound. This could mean that sediment has built up in your water heater. As the water warms, it will move around that sediment, making this noise. This can be fixed by having a pro flush your water heater system.
Crackling
Have you noticed that your water heater is making crackling sounds? If you have a gas-powered system, this could mean that your gas burners are getting wet. This could mean that you need to schedule maintenance soon so that things can be cleaned.
Why does my water heater sound like a tea kettle?
If your water heater is making a sound similar to a tea kettle whistling, it’s likely due to a buildup of pressure within the tank.
We know that when you hear kettling, it sounds like the water in the tank has started to boil and will soon burst because of the pressure. Not boiling water, but water bubbling up through a layer of sediment at the bottom of the water heater tank.
Hard water minerals can dissolve in the water supply and cause sediment to build up in a tank. When the water gets hot, it can’t hold on to these minerals anymore. They get out and float to the bottom of the tank. They can also build up limescale on the inside of the tank walls, which is a problem in and of itself.
A layer of sediment will form on the bottom of the tank, right over the heat exchanger, which is where heat is brought into the tank. Between the sediment and the heat exchanger, there will be a layer of water that will quickly heat up and bubble through the minerals. This is called kettling.
You want to get this sediment out of the tank because it will make the system work less well. You might also want to have a professional descale the inside of the tank to get rid of the limescale that has built up.
Kettling can be caused by the tank itself getting too hot, but again, you don’t need to worry about a burst tank. The tank thermostat can sometimes go wrong, which can cause the system to get too hot. The boiler could have been put in wrong, or it could be the wrong size. You’ll need a professional to look into the sound, figure out what’s making it, and fix it.
How do I stop my water heater from kettling?
It’s more than just annoying when your water heater sounds like a tea kettle. The kettling sound can be caused by broken parts or maintenance problems inside the unit. Most water heater sounds come from the vibrations inside the hot water unit. The good news is that it’s easy to fix if you catch it in time.
One thing you could do is look at your water heater while it’s turned off. Once the water heater has been checked, you can tighten the parts that need to be tightened to stop the vibrations.
When working on water heaters, you should always be very careful. The water inside can be dangerous because it is hot.
Final Words
Many homes have a problem with their water heater making noise. If your water heater sounds like water is running, you need to look for leaks. If your water heater is making a humming noise and you want to find out why you will need to check the heating element.
Several things can make noise in a tankless water heater. There are dirty parts and systems that don’t work well. To stop the water heater sounds like a tea kettle, flush out your unit or replace the parts or tank. You may also need to get in touch with your plumber.
