Reliance 501 gas water heater

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    • #278161
      Avatar photoMasterPlumbers
      Keymaster

        After running the hot water for about ten minutes, I begin to hear loud expansion popping coming from the water heater. This never happened before. I inspected the heater and see the flame is heating water, but it sounds like someone is playing racketball inside the tank. What’s wrong?

      • #297881
        Avatar photoGuest
        Participant

          After a few years, dirt settles on the heat exchanger. The dirt traps water in pockets. As the fire plays upon the heat exchanger, the water in the pockets turns to steam and it is forced out of the hole to collapse in the cool water. The collapse slams water together at high speed. The more pockets, the more pops.

          You might be able to have the bottom flushed of the sediment, you might not be able to and require a new heater.

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