Hot water heater noises – replacing dip tube

[skaruturi]

I have a gas hot water heater that when filling/heating water makes awful noises. Otherwise, it works fine. I spoke with a guy who said the dip tube will break off inside and it needed a new one. How do I put in a new one? Any help would be great!Thanks,Mary

[Mary WordenParticipant]

Mary:— Your water heater is doing like many gas water heaters, making the crunching..munching noises when the main burner is on. This racket is caused by steam bubbles imploding at the bottom of the tank. Best way to get rid of the noise is to get rid of the accumulation of mineral sludge and debris that settles to the bottom and acts as a insulation blanket. The cleaning is more easily said than done…Best way to clean it is to replace the ineffective drain cock at the bottom of the tank with a full port ball valve. This will make it much easier to flush this troublesome debris out. Dont worry about the dip tube, they rarely break, and are quite easily replaced. Lots of luck…Bud

[Mary WordenParticipant]

In addition to Buds evaluation, the inner wall of the center flue also accumulates deposits that cause the steam mini-explosions and they are fused to the metal and will not flush out. Either change the tank now, or eventually one or more of the nodules will rust through the tank and you can change it then. The dip tube breaking off would cause you to run out of water rather quickly even though the water in the tank would still be hot.: I have a gas hot water heater that when filling/heating : water makes awful noises. Otherwise, it works fine. I : spoke with a guy who said the dip tube will break off : inside and it needed a new one. How do I put in a new : one? Any help would be great!: Thanks,: Mary

[Mary WordenParticipant]

In regards to the comments about diptubes; there is currently an unsettled class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of the diptubes in many major label water heaters. They are breaking apart, not off. They break up into small chunks and can cause you to get a steady reduction in the volume of hot water produced by your heater. Another problem with these chuncks of diptube is that they have a tendency to clog the faucets and stops of the most frequently used hot water valves in the house (often the kitchen sink and showers). This in turn can greatly reduce the volume of hot water from these valves, sometimes down to just a trickle.Most of the affected heaters were manufactured during 1995, 1996 and early 1997. They were probably installed shortly thereafter. Check your water heater to get its serial number and contact the manufacturer to see if it is among those affected. Another tip-off is if you happen to see small pieces of white or gray particulate in your water.

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