JHB12
New Member
First time posting, long time follower of the site.
I've got what I think is a strange situation and I'm looking for advice before I sink any more money into a solution. A month ago I started to hear a loud rattling noise from my utility room when my washing machine was turning on (hot cycle only.) I tried to attach a video but it was too large. The noise sounded like it was coming from the venting pipe above my water heater, it was a shaking sound. It was very loud, could be heard from anywhere in the house. I was also able to replicate the noise when turning on the shower, but it typically only comes when washer is being turned on the hot cycle. I had my plumber come over and he determined it was coming from my water heater. His first suggestion was to try installing an expansion tank. That worked as far as stopping the rattling noise in the venting pipe above the WH. Now I'm hearing a loud banging noise coming from the water heater when the hot water is turned on from the washer, it sounds like someone is hitting it from the inside with a bat.
I had the company that installed the water heater come over and look at it and of course we could not replicate the sound as it normally comes when he was here. We were able to replicate it a bit and he thought it was coming from the baffle. Since the WH is still under warranty we replaced it thinking it might be warped. It did not work. I should note that the banging (and the original rattle) only seems to happen when the water heater is low on water and filling. So, if I had just taken a shower and shortly after tried to run a load in my washer is when you'll hear the original noise or the banging. I know gas water heaters make some noise, this not normal, very loud bang. The water heater company also flushed the WH before installing the new baffle.
I also encountered another strange problem after the expansion tank was installed. Now my water softener is indicating it's softening once every 5 minutes or so. I checked my toilets and every possible place for a leak and we don't think it's a leak. My plumber thinks it's pressure backflowing from the expansion tank into the softener causing it to spin.
Water heater is a year old.
Washing machine is less than a year old, LG top load (not a fan.)
Washing machine has hammer arrestors.
Data tag for WH is below.
Pic of my utility room is also below.
I live in a condo; my water comes in off of a main line and my system is self-contained after that.
I tested the water pressure. Resting is usually around 60PSI, but I do have spikes up to 85PSI a few times a day.
Sorry for the very long post, I wanted to try to include everything. My next course of action per my plumber would be to install a new water heater and a check valve to stop the water softener from metering down when not in use. I trust and like my plumber, I'm just looking for another opinion. I'm just worried I'm going to throw more money at this with the same result, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I've got what I think is a strange situation and I'm looking for advice before I sink any more money into a solution. A month ago I started to hear a loud rattling noise from my utility room when my washing machine was turning on (hot cycle only.) I tried to attach a video but it was too large. The noise sounded like it was coming from the venting pipe above my water heater, it was a shaking sound. It was very loud, could be heard from anywhere in the house. I was also able to replicate the noise when turning on the shower, but it typically only comes when washer is being turned on the hot cycle. I had my plumber come over and he determined it was coming from my water heater. His first suggestion was to try installing an expansion tank. That worked as far as stopping the rattling noise in the venting pipe above the WH. Now I'm hearing a loud banging noise coming from the water heater when the hot water is turned on from the washer, it sounds like someone is hitting it from the inside with a bat.
I had the company that installed the water heater come over and look at it and of course we could not replicate the sound as it normally comes when he was here. We were able to replicate it a bit and he thought it was coming from the baffle. Since the WH is still under warranty we replaced it thinking it might be warped. It did not work. I should note that the banging (and the original rattle) only seems to happen when the water heater is low on water and filling. So, if I had just taken a shower and shortly after tried to run a load in my washer is when you'll hear the original noise or the banging. I know gas water heaters make some noise, this not normal, very loud bang. The water heater company also flushed the WH before installing the new baffle.
I also encountered another strange problem after the expansion tank was installed. Now my water softener is indicating it's softening once every 5 minutes or so. I checked my toilets and every possible place for a leak and we don't think it's a leak. My plumber thinks it's pressure backflowing from the expansion tank into the softener causing it to spin.
Water heater is a year old.
Washing machine is less than a year old, LG top load (not a fan.)
Washing machine has hammer arrestors.
Data tag for WH is below.
Pic of my utility room is also below.
I live in a condo; my water comes in off of a main line and my system is self-contained after that.
I tested the water pressure. Resting is usually around 60PSI, but I do have spikes up to 85PSI a few times a day.
Sorry for the very long post, I wanted to try to include everything. My next course of action per my plumber would be to install a new water heater and a check valve to stop the water softener from metering down when not in use. I trust and like my plumber, I'm just looking for another opinion. I'm just worried I'm going to throw more money at this with the same result, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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