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AO Smith GPHE-50 knocking at 5 a.m.

by Deb Binderman
(Santa Fe, NM)

I have had an AO Smith GPHE-50 for a little over a year, which is located right next to my master bedroom. Every morning at about 5 a.m., the water heater begins a series of knocking noises for around half an hour--not really loud, but loud enough to wake me up. Quick little knocks, like a coffee percolator until the motor gives a little whirring that ends the episode. I just had it flushed, hoping that would help, but it hasn't. I'm thinking of putting the electrical plug on a timer, but I don't know if it will help and I'm nervous that might hurt the system. I don't know what to do short of getting rid of it and replacing it with a tankless, which shouldn't produce any noise except when it's in use.

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Dec 31, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Had same problem
by: Anonymous

Mine also is about a year old. Repairman replaced what he called the thermopile and the noise ceased. Now it has recently come back. Just the same.
Dec 21, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		WATER HEATER PROBLEMS
by: Anonymous

Seems as you have something in your vent system. Check for debris in the vent. If the noise is in the water, then your 'popping' noise is your water quality. Just like heating thick soup on the stove... when the bottom of your water heater has a layer of sediment at the bottom, when it heats, the sediment will bubble/pop while the burner is running... install a water softener.

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