Why your water heater pops and what it means
That popping sound is sediment boiling under a layer of scale. Here is what it does to the tank, and when flushing still helps.
Sediment settles out of Albany's hard water and collects at the bottom of the tank. When the burner fires, water trapped under that layer boils and forces its way out, which is the pop.
What it does to the tank
- The steel bottom runs hotter than it was designed for, so the glass lining cracks sooner.
- Recovery slows down because the burner is heating a layer of scale before it heats water.
- Gas bills creep up a little every year.
When a flush still helps
If the heater is under eight years old and the popping is new, a flush usually quiets it. Past that, the sediment has often hardened into a slab that will not drain, and the honest advice is to plan for a replacement rather than pay for a flush that changes nothing.
If you are not sure which case you are in, call and describe the sound. We can usually tell you over the phone.