Hot Water Tank Making Noise

[Jeff and Cheryl]

Last night I noticed a strange noise coming from the HW tank. Turned off the propane, no effect. Turned off the electric, noise went away. This morning, turned on the electric and the noise was there again. So, no electric help with the HW until I can get this noise resolved. The noise sounds like a whirling fan. We've been on the road for 4-weeks and expect to be out for several more, so any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Jeff and Cheryl]

Last night I noticed a strange noise coming from the HW tank. Turned off the propane, no effect. Turned off the electric, noise went away. This morning, turned on the electric and the noise was there again. So, no electric help with the HW until I can get this noise resolved. The noise sounds like a whirling fan. We've been on the road for 4-weeks and expect to be out for several more, so any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[dgerstel]

Jeff,

With age, the electric heating element will get a coating of mineral deposits on it or debris from the anode and mineral deposits can build up in the bottom of the tank, insulating the element from the water. When this happens water will boil on the heating element. This is not like boiling water in a kettle, but very small bubbles that are reabsorbed into the water. I think the sound is like a sizzling sound, I find sounds can be hard to describe. While our sounds are not described the same, this is the only thing that I know of that would cause a sound while the electric element was on. I have heard it from my 2002's water heater, before I replaced the anode and cleaned out the tank and from many portable spas with electric heating.

[Jeff and Cheryl]

Dale,

I did a little more work and can say that the sound could also be described as sizzling. Thank-you for the help.