Out gas fired hot water heater has started making loud popping noises
when the flame is on. It still seems to work fine otherwise. Does anyone
have experience with this. Is it anything to be concerned about? Thanks

Andrew Taylor wrote:
Out gas fired hot water heater has started making loud popping noises
when the flame is on. It still seems to work fine otherwise. Does anyone
have experience with this. Is it anything to be concerned about? Thanks

It's just bubbles of hot water "exploding" into steam on the
bottom of the heater shell where the flame hits.
Occurs on heaters which have not been periodically drained/flushed
to prevent mineral buildup.

http://groups.google.com/
Do an Advanced search on this ng for " draining water heater" or
similar. Been discussed ad nauseum.

On an old heater, the minerals are solidified and won't drain out though.

Jim

"Andrew Taylor" wrote in message
...
Out gas fired hot water heater has started making loud popping noises
when the flame is on. It still seems to work fine otherwise. Does anyone
have experience with this. Is it anything to be concerned about? Thanks

I had the popping sound on my gas water heater. It's a sign of sentiment on
the bottom of the tank. My new one doesn't do this.

You are loosing alot of efficiency due to scale build up from lack of
maintenance, flushing. I had a tank replaced , we opend it up and found
12" of sediment inside. How old is it it may be time to consider a new
one. You can try flushing it but it is probably so clogged if it is old
that you will never gat it clean. Unless flushed regularly tanks can
loose efficiency every year due to scale buildup

'Out gas fired hot water heater has started making loud popping noises
when the flame is on. It still seems to work fine otherwise. Does anyone
have experience with this. Is it anything to be concerned about? Thanks'

It is nearing the end of its life. The popping is the heat having to go
thru the sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank,
inside, and that makes the underneath of the tank run even hotter. I
would give serious thought to a new tank soon before the bottom seam
gives way, and you have much more than a puddle on the floor.

'It's just bubbles of hot water "exploding" into steam on the bottom of
the heater shell where the flame hits.'

What youve described , is, condensation that forms when you run the
water heater under high demand (cool water inside the tank being heated)
This makes more of a 'sisssssssss- ing ' sound than a pop ; if the
popping noise occurs ALL the time the water heater is firing (even
during a normal cycle of low demand...), then, its sediment in the tank
instead of condensation on the outside of the tank. As a safety
precaution, id replace a gas water heater at 15 years maximum ..and less
, if its located in an area that will cause major damage when it
eventually leaks..

As I recall, there was a promotion some years back, where a
manufacturer put popcorn in the bottom of one water heater. The people
that ended up with it would win $1 Million, but no one ever claimed the
prize.

There should be a door at the bottom of the heater, open it up and see
if there is any popcorn laying there - if so, you could be a
millionaire.

"HVAC fella" wrote in message
...
'It's just bubbles of hot water "exploding" into steam on the bottom of
the heater shell where the flame hits.'

What youve described , is, condensation that forms when you run the
water heater under high demand (cool water inside the tank being heated)
This makes more of a 'sisssssssss- ing ' sound than a pop ; if the
popping noise occurs ALL the time the water heater is firing (even
during a normal cycle of low demand...), then, its sediment in the tank
instead of condensation on the outside of the tank. As a safety
precaution, id replace a gas water heater at 15 years maximum ..and less
, if its located in an area that will cause major damage when it
eventually leaks..


This is Turtle.

Yes I can see your point there about the sissssssssss- ing sound than a pop
noise. Cold water boils faster than hot water and will make a boiling noise when
heating up. Now you need to send this endless void of Knownledge to all the hot
water tank companys for them to try to stop this condition. I do you suggest
about getting rebate on your next hot water tank change out for suppling them
with this endless void of knownledge.

TURTLE

What youve described , is, condensation that forms when you run the
water heater under high demand (cool water inside the tank being heated)
=A0=A0This makes more of a 'sisssssssss- ing ' sound than a pop ; if the
popping noise occurs ALL the time the water heater is firing (even
during a normal cycle of low demand...), then, its sediment in the tank
instead of condensation on the outside of the tank. As a safety
precaution, id replace a gas water heater at 15 years maximum ..and less
, if its located in an area that will cause major damage when it
eventually leaks..

'This is Turtle.
Yes I can see your point there about the sissssssssss- ing sound than a
pop noise. Cold water boils faster than hot water and will make a
boiling noise when heating up. Now you need to send this endless void of
Knownledge to all the hot water tank companys for them to try to stop
this condition. I do you suggest about getting rebate on your next hot
water tank change out for suppling them with this endless void of
knownledge.
TURTLE
'

ME: The water heater manufacturers are already familiar with
condensation occuring during high demand because they put it in their
owners manual that ships with the tank. The knowledge i imparted was
for the benefit of the OP which is what a NG is for. How about if you
and I have a truce Turtle ? Shall we work toward this end ? Im willing.

Aw, how sweet. Who kisses who first?

"Matt" wrote in message
oups.com...
Aw, how sweet. Who kisses who first?


This is Turtle.

Dave likes men and not Turtles. You kiss him.

TURTLE

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...
Andrew Taylor wrote:
Out gas fired hot water heater has started making loud popping noises when
the flame is on. It still seems to work fine otherwise. Does anyone have
experience with this. Is it anything to be concerned about? Thanks

It's just bubbles of hot water "exploding" into steam on the
bottom of the heater shell where the flame hits.
Occurs on heaters which have not been periodically drained/flushed
to prevent mineral buildup.

http://groups.google.com/
Do an Advanced search on this ng for " draining water heater" or
similar. Been discussed ad nauseum.

On an old heater, the minerals are solidified and won't drain out though.

Jim

This is Turtle.

Jim , I'm not a Hot Water fellow but when you say scale building up on the
inside of the tank and then when heating up and makes the popping sound the
sound is the water flashing to steam . Is this water flashing to steam inside
the tank or on the outside of the tank where the flames hit the tank burner area
?

TURTLE

TURTLE wrote:

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...

Andrew Taylor wrote:

Out gas fired hot water heater has started making loud popping noises when
the flame is on. It still seems to work fine otherwise. Does anyone have
experience with this. Is it anything to be concerned about? Thanks

It's just bubbles of hot water "exploding" into steam on the
bottom of the heater shell where the flame hits.
Occurs on heaters which have not been periodically drained/flushed
to prevent mineral buildup.

http://groups.google.com/
Do an Advanced search on this ng for " draining water heater" or
similar. Been discussed ad nauseum.

On an old heater, the minerals are solidified and won't drain out though.

Jim


This is Turtle.

Jim , I'm not a Hot Water fellow but when you say scale building up on the
inside of the tank and then when heating up and makes the popping sound the
sound is the water flashing to steam . Is this water flashing to steam inside
the tank or on the outside of the tank where the flames hit the tank burner area
?

TURTLE


Inside.

See:
http://www.handymanjim.com/f.htm

Jim

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...
TURTLE wrote:

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...

Andrew Taylor wrote:

Out gas fired hot water heater has started making loud popping noises when
the flame is on. It still seems to work fine otherwise. Does anyone have
experience with this. Is it anything to be concerned about? Thanks

It's just bubbles of hot water "exploding" into steam on the
bottom of the heater shell where the flame hits.
Occurs on heaters which have not been periodically drained/flushed
to prevent mineral buildup.

http://groups.google.com/
Do an Advanced search on this ng for " draining water heater" or
similar. Been discussed ad nauseum.

On an old heater, the minerals are solidified and won't drain out though.

Jim


This is Turtle.

Jim , I'm not a Hot Water fellow but when you say scale building up on the
inside of the tank and then when heating up and makes the popping sound the
sound is the water flashing to steam . Is this water flashing to steam inside
the tank or on the outside of the tank where the flames hit the tank burner
area ?

TURTLE
Inside.

See:
http://www.handymanjim.com/f.htm

Jim

This is Turtle.

Hey that was a very imformitive site on these simple subjects. Nice job there.

TURTLE