Water Heater just started talking to me, any suggestions?

[planomustang]

I am sitting in the garage, like every night, and I hear the water heater start making gurgling noises.

Sounds like maybe some slag fell off the side walls, and the burbling is due to the slag trapping boiling water at the bottom of the tank.

I replaced this water heater, ten years ago, so it is at it's end of life.

So, should I just replace ASAP, or should I wait for complete failure?

Thanks,

rk

[buckmastertexas]

Well, this question probably should be answered by a plumber, but in the meantime, you might remove the electricity or gas, to cool it off, and then hook up a water hose to the drain faucet on it, and drain it to the outside, to attempt to clean out crap in it. It might be cool to remove the heating element to see how much mineral buildup is on it.

The only two things I know that would require replacing it is if it was leaking or had so much mineral buildup inside that it had reduced volume capacity.

That's all I got besides spending money, replacing it.

Hopefully someone else will chime in.

[Huntindad]

I have drained mine many times... it is 15 years old. AO Smith brand. I never have turned off the gas...just hook up the hose and let it fly. As water goes out, water comes in to replace it.

Before you do this... take off the little filters(if any) on the hose, female end I think.

[Stuck]

As HD said, you don't need to turn it off. Just don't drain it in your lawn or you will kill the grass.

[planomustang]

Dang I feel stupid. Did not even think about draining it.

BTW, I replaced this water heater, myself. I must be getting old

[EdO]

If draining it don't help .... get a new one.

If you're upwards of 50, have somebody else install it.

If you hate pluming like I do, have somebody else install it.

Pretty much, water heaters are one of those things that are not that expensive to have installed. Unless there are code restrictions that have been revised since your original heater was installed. If that's the case I'd pursue doing it myself.

[planomustang]

If draining it don't help .... get a new one.

If you're upwards of 50, have somebody else install it.

If you hate pluming like I do, have somebody else install it.

Pretty much, water heaters are one of those things that are not that expensive to have installed. Unless there are code restrictions that have been revised since your original heater was installed. If that's the case I'd pursue doing it myself.

I am over 50.
I do my own work, whether it is plumbing or baling hay.
I don't pay somebody else to do what I can do.
Why pay someone $900 to replace a water heater, when you can do it yourself for $500?

Codes don't matter, if they can't catch you

[Huntindad]

I am over 50.
I do my own work, whether it is plumbing or baling hay.
I don't pay somebody else to do what I can do.
Why pay someone $900 to replace a water heater, when you can do it yourself for $500?

Codes don't matter, if they can't catch you

You and I think alot alike and I am over 50 as well...closer to 60, jeesh...

[ultralite09]

I am over 50.
I do my own work, whether it is plumbing or baling hay.
I don't pay somebody else to do what I can do.
Why pay someone $900 to replace a water heater, when you can do it yourself for $500?

Codes don't matter, if they can't catch you

You sound like my pops. ours had the same symptoms like yours, tried draining it and cleaning the heating elements. ended up just calling it quits and went to home depot cause they were on sale and picked a 50 gal up for under $400, Got it installed in an hour.

[planomustang]

You and I think alot alike and I am over 50 as well...closer to 60, jeesh...

I can still run a mile, and bench press 200 lbs. I am not what I was when I was 30, and I am willing to bet that EdO can do neither.

Old Farts Rule, just because we can

[Hookem84]

I'm 29 and was raised draining and cleaning and replacing the hot water heater elements we had hard water and it was not a easy job but it'll be like a new one when your done. Haven't had to clean or change the elements on my new house yet but will over and over till she starts leaking.

[Greenheadless]

If it is electric, turn it off first or I will guarantee you about 99.99% chance you will blow out your elements. Make sure you completely refill the tank before turning back on. Ask me how I know.

[Huntindad]

If it is electric, turn it off first or I will guarantee you about 99.99% chance you will blow out your elements. Make sure you completely refill the tank before turning back on. Ask me how I know.

Why doesn't it refill as it drains? sounds like you may have had a bad tank.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

FYI... although scale build up can and will make a water heater gurgle there is also a pickup tube inside that extends to the bottom of the tank. It is there so that hot water is picked up as cold water comes in the top... In many cases this tube corrodes and drops off. If the hot water doesn't seem as hot or doesn't seem to be lasting as long as it used to then this tube is the source of your gurgle. you'll need to replace the WH..

[Stan R]

Edo is 71 per his profile.