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New water heater making noise

Applies to gas and electric tank-type heaters
 
Use 6 wraps teflon tape
? White for water lines
? Yellow for gas lines

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replace anode rod
Inspect anode each 2-5 years
Anode rod prevents tank from rusting
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Pressure over 80 psi can damage water heater and household plumbing
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COLD side Sharkbite flexible water heater connector

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Several things can cause noise:
-Installing new heater or doing plumbing repair can affect check valves, pressure valves, recirculating systems, and plumbing in general. Incoming water lines should be flushed clear of debris before connection to new water heater.
Other noises:
-Running water noise?
Resource:
Water heater sounds like it's running water

-Recirculation pumps can cause noise when new water heater is installed:
Bleed air from water line, install air vent
Resources:
Water heater recirculating pumps
Troubleshoot water heater valves

-Clunking pipes or pounding sound
Install air chamber at each faucet.

-Whistling humming sound
Clogged heat traps, read information below:
Heat trap nipples
Heat trap nipples: pink for Hot and Blue for cold.


Heat trap washer

Factory-Installed heat traps

Heat travels upward ... touch pipes above water heater and they are warm.
Heat traps assist in stopping upward convection of heat through pipes.
To meet the 2012 energy standard, manufacturer's added heat traps to achieve higher efficiency. They also added a short piece of insulation over the TP valve to stop unnecessary heat loss. Other water heater changes include foam insulation instead of fiberglass. And in 2015, the energy standard caused more insulation to be added.
Heat traps can save $2-6? per year energy cost. Insulating pipes above heater can add additional savings.

Two basic types of heat traps:
Heat trap nipples, and heat trap washers.
The heat trap washer is inserted between the nipple and the tank. While the heat trap nipple contains a plastic baffle one inside the nipple, at the end nearest the tank.

Where does the noise come from:
Plumbing repairs, such as installing new water heater, can dislodge debris into the water line that will clog the heat trap. City water line repair, or street repairs, or new water meter, earthquake, heavy equipment or vibration can loosen debris in the water that gets caught in the heat trap. Changing water well tank or pump can put debris in the water. Galvanized pipe is especially prone to sediment buildup, and rust flakes. Plastic and copper pipes are not as likely to cause problems.
The plumbing repair would need to be on incoming cold water line for it to affect heat traps. Simply changing a faucet would generally not cause a difference in the water heater.
Symptoms of clogged heat trap can include noise or whistling, or even reduced water flow or water pressure.
Resource:
Heat trap bulletin
silencer heat trap nipples Silencer heat traps

Pex-lined nipples resist corrosion, deterioration of pipes, and are quiet.
Each time work is done on incoming water line or with street repair outside, etc.... debris can come loose inside pipes and clog heat trap nipples, and other valves, faucets and pipe fittings inside home

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Silencer heat traps at Amazon
Dielectric nipples at Amazon
5" di-electric nipple
3/4" x 6" brass nipple
Heat trap make noise Heat-trap inserts and nipples can clog and make noise
Manufacturers include heat-traps so their product appears to use less energy
When installing water heater, remove manufacturer's heat traps.
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Dielectric nipples at Amazon
Heat trap washers can clog and make noise
Manufacturers include heat-traps so their product appears to use less energy
When installing water heater, remove heat trap washer.
Read
Image shows heat-trap washer. This specific washer is necessary to hold dip tube in place when installing di-electric nipples. To make this washer usable: Push washer over sharpie ink pen and cut off baffles so washer can be used without risk of clog. 
Heat trapCut out center of heat trap insert
Heat trap washer can be changed to high heat washer
Water heaters with insert type dip tube might have heat trap washer

Resource:
Read about dip tubes

Replace using di-electric nipples.
Prevent clogs and extends life of water heater.
Use 6 wraps teflon tape.

Resources:
 9 ways to save with water heater
How to remove short water heater nipple
carriage bolt
Read more: How to replace short nipple
short nipple on water heater Short nipple
The new energy standard that took effect 2015, caused water heater manufacturers to add more insulation to tanks.
The new tank have more insulation on top of tank, so the nipple appears shorter than older tanks.
This nipple is difficult to remove, but it might not have same heat trap nipple as earlier models, and may not cause noise problem.
Buy:
3/4" x 6" brass nipple
5" di-electric nipple

Resource:
How to replace short nipple
Replace short nipple with brass, or with 5" pex lined nipple:

Larger image with details
Make your own heat traps
This action saves money by stopping heat loss through water pipes

Or Use flexible copper connections in a loop.
Buy:
Flex copper connections at Amazon
Purpose of heat trap is to keep heat from traveling upward on pipe.

Insulate pipes. Electric heater, pipes and tank can be fully covered by insulation, except TP valve.
Gas water heater, then pipe insulation must stay 3-4 inches away from top of heater so they do not obstruct vent hood draft.
Resources:
Read 9-ways to save with water heater
How to troubleshoot gas water heater
How to troubleshoot electric water heater

Before spending money on repairs, check anode rod

Does not apply to new water heater
Applies to gas and electric water heaters
This will stop tank from rusting. Or add combo anode rod in place of hot water nipple.
If anode rod is depleted, then install new anode to prevent steel tank from rusting.
Anode is located on top of tank, either 1-1/16” hex head located in separate anode port, or connected to hot water nipple as a combo.
Resource:
Replace anode rod

Turn off gas to water heater

Locate gas shut off. Handle will be parallel with gas line when gas is ON Rotate gas shut off handle perpendicular across line to shut gas OFF.

Let water heater cool for a couple hours.

Use garden hose to drain tank

Turn off water to tank
Turn off power to tank Read more
Attach hose.
Open drain valve turning counterclockwise
Open bathtub spout so air can enter tank
Resource:
Emergency steps for leaking water heater
water key

Shut off water to house

Rotate shut off 1/4 turn so valve is perpendicular across water line
Image shows water key.
Located water meter box, remove lid, dig away dirt to find shut off
Shut off located on house side of meter
Resource:
Repair water heater valve

Water key
Buy water key at Amazon
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Water keys at Amazon

Relieve pressure on tank

Open tub spout on hot side for a few moments.
If you relieve pressure by lifting lever on TP valve, then stand away from scalding water that is released under pressure from overflow tube

Reinforce connections for water heater
Keep insulation away from top of gas water heater. Insulate both hot and cold pipes.
Larger image

Replace heat trap nipples

6 wraps teflon tape on each nipple
General illustrations showing home-made heat traps

Bathtub running full stream before lighting water heater

Tank must be full of water before lighting or applying power

 Fill tank completely with water until water is coming out of tub spout.
Open tub spout on hot side and wait for full stream of water.
Next open TP valve for a moment to bleed last of air from tank.
Turn off tub spout and light heater.
Tank cannot have any air when burner is turned on or damage can occur to tank.

How to light typical gas water heater
Read directions printed on side of your tank
Light new water heater as shown on label located front of water heater
Read product manual for tips and advisories.

Resource:
How to light gas water heater by type of gas control valve
Note: New gas heater might have small water leak when first fired up because of condensation
Ignore a bit of water inside combustion area or bottom of tank.
This water is condensation and will disappear as tank reaches set temperature.
Any cold tank can show same condensation when fired up.
Water pipes should not be leaking.
Water should not be dripping down vent pipe: this signals bad venting or other vent problem.
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