I moved into a new house almost a year ago. From the first day that I
moved in, the Hot water tank would rumble. It's certainly an older
(gas) unit and will need replacement in the near future, but I'd still
like to try to figure out variouis reasons that it might be rumbling.

I had first assumed that it could be sediment in the tank, so I drained
it, but didn't really get anything coming out during the drain.

The drain may have helped some, but it's tough to call. Since the
drain, over time, it has lessened. It used to rumble when you'd open a
tap or fill a bath, but it seems not to do it at those times so much
now. I just heard it rumble when the dishwasher was running.

Any ideas on the various causes that could be at work, causing the
rumbling?

I think I may plan to go to a tankless (gas) Hot Water Heater when this
dies, but I'd still like to try to figure out what's going on to cause
the rumbling in the mean time.

Thanks,

Danny

"Danny" wrote in message
...
I moved into a new house almost a year ago. From the first day that I
moved in, the Hot water tank would rumble. It's certainly an older
(gas) unit and will need replacement in the near future, but I'd still
like to try to figure out variouis reasons that it might be rumbling.

I had first assumed that it could be sediment in the tank, so I drained
it, but didn't really get anything coming out during the drain.

The drain may have helped some, but it's tough to call. Since the
drain, over time, it has lessened. It used to rumble when you'd open a
tap or fill a bath, but it seems not to do it at those times so much
now. I just heard it rumble when the dishwasher was running.

Any ideas on the various causes that could be at work, causing the
rumbling?

I think I may plan to go to a tankless (gas) Hot Water Heater when this
dies, but I'd still like to try to figure out what's going on to cause
the rumbling in the mean time.

Thanks,

Danny

Rumbling can be caused by calcium build up in the tank. I had one do that.

When you drain it is important to remove the drain plug completely, connect
a hose and then fill and flush with water again. The drain plug is pretty
small and the straight hose connection will let more particles out.

"Danny" wrote in message
...
I moved into a new house almost a year ago. From the first day that I
moved in, the Hot water tank would rumble. It's certainly an older
(gas) unit and will need replacement in the near future, but I'd still
like to try to figure out variouis reasons that it might be rumbling.

I had first assumed that it could be sediment in the tank, so I drained
it, but didn't really get anything coming out during the drain.

The drain may have helped some, but it's tough to call. Since the
drain, over time, it has lessened. It used to rumble when you'd open a
tap or fill a bath, but it seems not to do it at those times so much
now. I just heard it rumble when the dishwasher was running.

Any ideas on the various causes that could be at work, causing the
rumbling?

I think I may plan to go to a tankless (gas) Hot Water Heater when this
dies, but I'd still like to try to figure out what's going on to cause
the rumbling in the mean time.

Thanks,

Danny


This is probably sediment build up in the tank. The reason it didn't all
come out is that the valve constricts the opening. There are a couple of
things you can do for your water heater to make it function better.

Replace the drain valve with a full port ball valve. When open this valve
has an opening that is as large as the pipe so it does not constrict the
flow of the sediment.

For a great how to site on water heaters check out:

http://waterheaterrescue.com/

This is the best information I have ever found on water heaters.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

Danny,

I moved into a new house almost a year ago. From the first day that I
moved in, the Hot water tank would rumble. It's certainly an older
(gas) unit and will need replacement in the near future, but I'd still
like to try to figure out variouis reasons that it might be rumbling.
It used to rumble when you'd open a tap or fill a bath,
but it seems not to do it at those times so much now.

I think sediment build up is the most common cause of water heater noise.

However, if you have "heat saver" nipples coming out of the top of your
water heater, you may want to check or replace those too.

We installed a new electric water heater, with new "heat saver" pipe
nipples. Anytime we used hot water we would get loud rumbling noises from
the water heater. The more flow, the louder the noise. Running the bathtub
faucets was the worst.

Anyway, I just installed a circulating pump on our system, and replaced the
heat saver nipples with regular brass pipe nipples. The noise is gone!

I researched this a bit and it turns out that the little balls or flappers
in the heat saver nipples can rattle or vibrate as water passes through
them. It's amazing how much noise they can make.

Something to check...

Anthony

Guys,
I think that you have given me some ideas. I had wondered a bit as I was
draining the tank about the outflow size of the drain, but figured "it must be
right cause that's the manufacturer's own part". Now I can see that it's not
maybe correct or even the best thing, even if they put it on.

I don't think I have heat saver nipples. I just checked. All that I can see
coming out of the female couplings on the tank are what look like short,
standard nipples. To this is screwed on a copper pipe adapter that has a
female threaded opening (pipe threads) and hex flats on it. That, then
attatches to the hot two copper pipe lines above with the usual methods of
copper pipe and sweat on couplers.

Thanks,

Danny

HerHusband wrote:

Danny,

I moved into a new house almost a year ago. From the first day that I
moved in, the Hot water tank would rumble. It's certainly an older
(gas) unit and will need replacement in the near future, but I'd still
like to try to figure out variouis reasons that it might be rumbling.
It used to rumble when you'd open a tap or fill a bath,
but it seems not to do it at those times so much now.

I think sediment build up is the most common cause of water heater noise.

However, if you have "heat saver" nipples coming out of the top of your
water heater, you may want to check or replace those too.

We installed a new electric water heater, with new "heat saver" pipe
nipples. Anytime we used hot water we would get loud rumbling noises from
the water heater. The more flow, the louder the noise. Running the bathtub
faucets was the worst.

Anyway, I just installed a circulating pump on our system, and replaced the
heat saver nipples with regular brass pipe nipples. The noise is gone!

I researched this a bit and it turns out that the little balls or flappers
in the heat saver nipples can rattle or vibrate as water passes through
them. It's amazing how much noise they can make.

Something to check...

Anthony

Danny,

I don't think I have heat saver nipples. I just checked. All that I
can see coming out of the female couplings on the tank are what look
like short, standard nipples.

You may not be able to tell from looking at the outside of the pipe. Mine
just looked like short galvanized pipe nipples, except for little arrows
stamped on the sides to show the directional flow. You couldn't see the
little flappers inside until the supply lines were disconnected.

Anthony

"Danny" wrote in message
...

To this is screwed on a copper pipe adapter that has a
female threaded opening (pipe threads) and hex flats on it. That, then
attatches to the hot two copper pipe lines above with the usual methods of
copper pipe and sweat on couplers.

What you refer to as a copper pipe adapter is a dielectric union. This
provides an electrical insulation between the copper and the galvanized pipe
to prevent electrolysis.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

Roger,

What you refer to as a copper pipe adapter is a dielectric union.
This provides an electrical insulation between the copper and the
galvanized pipe to prevent electrolysis.

I have plastic piping here, so I have no need for the dielectric unions.

However, I was doing some research on those unions and it sounds like they
don't work well in real life. The theory is good, putting an insulator
between dissimilar metals so they won't corrode from electrolysis. If the
pipes were dry, it would work great. However, when the pipes are filled
with water (a conductor) the corrosion apparently bridges the gap and the
pipes corrode as if the union weren't there.

Just something I learned from plumbers who deal with this stuff every
day...

Anthony

"HerHusband" wrote in message
...
Roger,

What you refer to as a copper pipe adapter is a dielectric union.
This provides an electrical insulation between the copper and the
galvanized pipe to prevent electrolysis.

I have plastic piping here, so I have no need for the dielectric unions.

However, I was doing some research on those unions and it sounds like they
don't work well in real life. The theory is good, putting an insulator
between dissimilar metals so they won't corrode from electrolysis. If the
pipes were dry, it would work great. However, when the pipes are filled
with water (a conductor) the corrosion apparently bridges the gap and the
pipes corrode as if the union weren't there.

Just something I learned from plumbers who deal with this stuff every
day...

Anthony


If you don't think they work would you connect copper directly to galvanized
pipe in your home? I sure wouldn't. Why don't you get that know-it all
plumber to prove his theory with a volt meter.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

If you don't think they work would you connect copper directly to
galvanized pipe in your home? I sure wouldn't. Why don't you get
that know-it all plumber to prove his theory with a volt meter.

I found the information on www.plbg.com and a number of plumbers shared
similar experiences. I don't claim it as fact, just relaying the
information I read.

I'm sure the dielectric unions have to be better than a direct copper to
galvanized connection, but it doesn't sound like they are the "perfect"
solution.

The general recommendation was to use standard brass nipples to join the
copper piping to the hot water tank. They apparently hold up fairly well,
despite the copper content in the brass.

Anthony

Greetings,

Is it possible that part of the anode rod has broken off and is bouncing
around inside the tank? This might have happened when someone botched an
attempt to replace the old anode rod, etc.

Hope this helps,
William


"Danny" wrote in message
...
I moved into a new house almost a year ago. From the first day that I
moved in, the Hot water tank would rumble. It's certainly an older
(gas) unit and will need replacement in the near future, but I'd still
like to try to figure out variouis reasons that it might be rumbling.

I had first assumed that it could be sediment in the tank, so I drained
it, but didn't really get anything coming out during the drain.

The drain may have helped some, but it's tough to call. Since the
drain, over time, it has lessened. It used to rumble when you'd open a
tap or fill a bath, but it seems not to do it at those times so much
now. I just heard it rumble when the dishwasher was running.

Any ideas on the various causes that could be at work, causing the
rumbling?

I think I may plan to go to a tankless (gas) Hot Water Heater when this
dies, but I'd still like to try to figure out what's going on to cause
the rumbling in the mean time.

Thanks,

Danny

A piece of an anode rod bouncing around?
I guess when they start making them out of plastic you might just have
the answer there Willie ol buddie.
Too Too funny.
Bubba.

On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 15:58:01 -0500, "William Deans"
wrote:

Greetings,

Is it possible that part of the anode rod has broken off and is bouncing
around inside the tank? This might have happened when someone botched an
attempt to replace the old anode rod, etc.

Hope this helps,
William


"Danny" wrote in message
...
I moved into a new house almost a year ago. From the first day that I
moved in, the Hot water tank would rumble. It's certainly an older
(gas) unit and will need replacement in the near future, but I'd still
like to try to figure out variouis reasons that it might be rumbling.

I had first assumed that it could be sediment in the tank, so I drained
it, but didn't really get anything coming out during the drain.

The drain may have helped some, but it's tough to call. Since the
drain, over time, it has lessened. It used to rumble when you'd open a
tap or fill a bath, but it seems not to do it at those times so much
now. I just heard it rumble when the dishwasher was running.

Any ideas on the various causes that could be at work, causing the
rumbling?

I think I may plan to go to a tankless (gas) Hot Water Heater when this
dies, but I'd still like to try to figure out what's going on to cause
the rumbling in the mean time.

Thanks,

Danny

'Any ideas on the various causes that could be at work, causing the
rumbling?'

ME: Its a load of sediment stuck in the bottom of the tank . The heat
from the burner has to go thru this sediment before it reaches the water
in the tank. SO, you hear a popping or rumbling noise. As time goes
on,..it will get worse . The bottom of the tank will run much hotter
than normal too, which will speed up its eventual failure. What is most
likely to happen is, the bottom seam of the tank will start to seperate
and start leaking. On occasion , the entire bottom of the tank gives way
and you have Niagra Falls -- just hope youre home if/when this occurs,
and hope that your water shut off valves work ! (which most dont cause
they havent been turned in 15 plus years). The efficiency and capacity
of your rumbling tank , is less than it was when new. Id get rid of it
very soon. No need to chance alot of mess to clean up. Water heaters are
faily inexpensive when you consider they last for at least 12-15 years
on average.