Noisy Tankless Water Heater Jacksonville NC | Plumbing Repair Help
Tankless water heaters should operate quietly.
When your water heater starts making a clicking sound, knocking, or any other odd noises, it’s a sign that something is wrong.
I’m Justin Wilder, owner of Wild Water Plumbing, and a Veteran of the Navy.
We’ve serviced more noisy water heaters than we can count in the Jacksonville, NC area, and I’m happy to report that most of the time it’s an easy fix if caught early enough.
In this article, we’ll run through the most common water heater noises and what they are likely to mean.
🔊 Clicking or Ticking Sounds
This is actually one of the most common sounds we get calls about.
If you hear a consistent clicking or ticking noise, it may be due to the metal components inside your furnace expanding as they heat up.
That’s often perfectly normal.
However, if the clicking continues or becomes louder, it can indicate a loose component or a problem with the ignition system.
That’s something you’ll want us to investigate before it leads to a bigger problem.
💥 Banging or Knocking Sounds
Loud bangs or knocking noises are often caused by scale or mineral buildup inside the heat exchanger.
Jacksonville has moderately hard water, which means calcium and sediment can collect inside your unit if it hasn’t been flushed regularly.
That buildup creates hot spots and pressure changes, causing the water to rattle and pop.
Left alone, it can damage the unit and shorten its lifespan.
We recommend flushing your system at least once a year to keep it clean and quiet.
🌬️ Whistling or Hissing Noises
Whistling could mean there’s a restriction somewhere in the water line or venting system.
It might be a partially closed valve, a dirty air filter, or even a blocked exhaust pipe.
If you hear this sound, turn the system off and give us a call.
Restricted airflow or pressure problems can be hazardous if not appropriately addressed.
⚠️ When the Noise Means Trouble
Here’s the rule: if your tankless water heater suddenly starts making a noise it never made before—or the sound keeps getting worse—it’s not something to ignore.
Even if the unit is still heating water, the noise usually indicates that something inside isn’t functioning properly.
Fixing it early can save you a costly repair down the line—or even a full system replacement.
How We Fix Noisy Tankless Water Heaters
At Wild Water Plumbing, we’ll come out, inspect your system, and find out exactly what’s going on. Most of the time, the fix involves:
- Flushing the unit to remove scale
- Replacing worn-out parts like sensors or valves
- Cleaning burners or air filters
- Securing loose components
- Checking for proper venting and pressure settings
Call Jacksonville’s Trusted Plumbing Pros
If your tankless water heater is making weird noises, don’t wait for it to fail.
Let our team at Wild Water Plumbing take a look.
We’re honest, fast, and local—and we’ll fix the issue the right way.
📞 Call us today at 910-750-2312
🛠️ Wild Water Plumbing – Veteran-Owned, Jacksonville-Tested