Drained and Flushed but still purcolating

[JSamuel21]

Drained and flushed my hot water heart twice and it is still making the percolating noise. Any advice?

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

get a new water heater or drain out the unit totally and pour about a gallon of vinegar into the tank
and let it sit all day long... the vinegar will eat up the lime and make your hot water smell like a salad

they claim it will work

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Dj2]

How old is the water heater.
If around 10 yo, skip the cleaning and get a new unit.

 

[Jadnashua]

THe mineral deposits might just be blocking some small holes in the tank...cleaning it out might make it leak! When the burner is not on, if there's a small imperfection in the mineral deposit, it can let liquid water seep underneath. When the burner comes on, because the minerals help act sort of like a stopper (think pressure cooker) and an insulator, eventually, that liquid can turn to steam, and break though out into the tank making some audible sounds.

 

[hj]

Nodes have developed on the inside of the central flue pipe. Water in them is heated to superheated status by the hot gases, and when hot enough the water is forced out and into the water heater. Contact with the water cools them immediately releasing the extra energy as a "mini explosion" which is the popping sound you hear. Eventually the nodes will crack open so they do not trap water and the sound will go away.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

Nodes have developed on the inside of the central flue pipe. Water in them is heated to superheated status by the hot gases, and when hot enough the water is forced out and into the water heater. Contact with the water cools them immediately releasing the extra energy as a "mini explosion" which is the popping sound you hear. Eventually the nodes will crack open so they do not trap water and the sound will go away.

I have never seen one heal itself yet, usually in our area they just get worse and worse