10/14/2026
Your water heater is about to work its hardest all year. Colder incoming water means longer heating cycles, and holiday guests mean more showers, more dishes, and more laundry. Hard water leaves mineral sediment at the bottom of the tank. That sediment makes your heater run longer, raises your energy bill, and wears the tank out faster. Flushing it now, before winter demand hits, keeps it efficient when you need it most.
Not sure if yours needs attention? Listen to it.
• Popping or rumbling: sediment buildup. Water trapped under the minerals is boiling and bursting through. This is the classic sign it’s time to flush.
• Crackling or sizzling: on an electric heater, the heating element may be coated in scale. On a gas heater, it can be condensation hitting the burner, which is worth checking if it’s new.
• Banging or knocking: heavy sediment shifting, or water hammer in your lines.
• Screeching or whistling: a valve that’s partly closed or restricted.
• Hissing: possibly a leak, or the pressure relief valve releasing. Don’t ignore this one.
A quiet tick as the pipes expand is usually normal. A heater that’s getting louder every month is asking for help.
Most tanks should be flushed once a year. If you hear any of these sounds, see water around the base, or your hot water runs out faster than it used to, give us a call. We’ll flush it, check the anode rod and relief valve, and let you know how much life it has left.
📞(636) 294-9110 | bonoplumbing.com
