Question 1

Why is my water heater making a rumbling or popping noise?

Accepted Answer

That noise, often called kettling, is water boiling under a layer of sediment at the bottom of the tank. Utah's hard water leaves mineral deposits that collect over the burner or element, and water trapped beneath them bubbles through, creating the sound. Flushing the tank clears the sediment and usually relieves the noise. Call (385) 644-6985.

Question 2

How does hard water shorten a water heater's life?

Accepted Answer

Hard water leaves sediment that insulates the heat source, so the unit works harder and wears faster, and it depletes the anode rod, the sacrificial part that protects the tank from rust, faster than average. Once the rod is gone, the tank corrodes toward failure. Annual flushing and anode-rod replacement help counter both effects.

Question 3

What is an anode rod and why does it matter in Utah?

Accepted Answer

The anode rod is a sacrificial metal rod inside the tank that corrodes in place of the steel walls, protecting the tank from rust. In Utah's hard water it depletes faster than the national average, sometimes in a few years, and once spent the tank begins to corrode. Checking and replacing it can add years to a water heater.