Squealing at hot water tank

Whiskey River wrote:
I don't know about blazing zippers but I don't think mine has anything to do with the pressure relief valve as it makes the same noise regardless if the water is hot or cold. Same noise, sounds like a motor running, and is louder if the hot water is opened up more. I watched that u tube video and it is not a squealing noise like the heating element made. As I say, the hot water tank heat can be shut off for a week, show up and turn the hot water faucet or spigot in the sink and the water is cold and the same noise.
et2 I am interested in the mixing valve. Where is it located. That sounds like something it could be. I have never heard of it, but that means nothing. I just thought the mixing valve is the faucet or spigot by opening the cold to cool down the hot water....

See old biscuits pic - it's at the top by the looks of it. The hot out to your faucets connects to the back of that mixing valve. It only squeals if turning a faucet on.

The cold line into the heater is on the bottom. That line running to the top valve is cold being added to the hot water in the mixing valve.

We have a suburban water heater and it has a small squeal when it is heating with electricity. It has done this since it was new. (11 years now) It will stop as soon as you turn it off.

You do not have to draw water for this to happen. The squeal seems to change when you replace the anode rod sometimes.

I don't know about blazing zippers but I don't think mine has anything to do with the pressure relief valve as it makes the same noise regardless if the water is hot or cold. Same noise, sounds like a motor running, and is louder if the hot water is opened up more. I watched that u tube video and it is not a squealing noise like the heating element made. As I say, the hot water tank heat can be shut off for a week, show up and turn the hot water faucet or spigot in the sink and the water is cold and the same noise.
et2 I am interested in the mixing valve. Where is it located. That sounds like something it could be. I have never heard of it, but that means nothing. I just thought the mixing valve is the faucet or spigot by opening the cold to cool down the hot water....

et2 wrote:
You could have what is called a mixer valve. We have one and had the squeal. It was replaced. Was quiet for some time, occasionally it still does. From what I understand it's suppose to allow the hot water tank heat to a little higher temp and mixes it with cold when used, allowing you you to use less hot water.

IF you have an ATWOOD XT model it will have a 'mixing valve'
(Suburban does not use a mixing valve)

Located near hot out and has a cold water line to it also.
T-stat on WH allows heating to 160*F (inlet to mixing valve) then cold water mixes and outlet to hot lines is 130*F

They can make noises when cold water side or hot from WH tank get crud/scale building up......typically ends up clogging so bad that water is cold or just like warm





As for the Temp-Press Relief Valve

The will NOT suck air back in due to the pressure inside WH Tank...either from the supply or from heating of water.
When they open they are very loud

You could have what is called a mixer valve. We have one and had the squeal. It was replaced. Was quiet for some time, occasionally it still does. From what I understand it's suppose to allow the hot water tank heat to a little higher temp and mixes it with cold when used, allowing you you to use less hot water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAIyvmxqRYA

Might apply?

Humph , Just a wild guess on my part. Maybe someone can tell me I'm wrong. But, there is a pressure relief valve on the outside of the water heater. Could ; in some strange way; it be coming open when you turn on a valve and allowing air to get sucked into the tank and causing a noise that way??? Is your hot water kinda foamy?

I doubt it but off of the top of my head it is the only thing I could think of.

Blazing Zippers I feel your pain. I have the same problem, and have for the last 3 or 4 years.
I assumed it was the check valve at the bottom that is part of the winterizing process that you do not have to fill the tank with antifreeze. So I changed it and same noise. I opened and checked the top and no valve there. Next I removed the check valve on the bottom and just put in a nipple, same noise. I took out the nipple and put in a manual ball valve so I can winterize, but the noise is still there. When you turn on the hot water you get the noise. Doesn't matter weather the water is hot or not, just turning on the hot water in the kitchen, bathroom sink or shower and you get the noise. So the water is running thru the hot water tank. I bought the 5th wheel new and it did not do it for 3 or 4 years. Its a 2009 and the hot water tank works good either on gas or electric. I also have flushed it relentlessly several times to no avail. Sure would like to know what it is. I also posted on here a year or 2 ago and no one had an answer that worked.

Blazing Zippers wrote:
It happens whenever the hot water is being used. The sound is just loud enough to be irritating.
When I removed what I thought was a check valve (it had some plumbing thingys inside it), I seriously considered getting a nipple to replace it with.
Obviously, a plumber I am not! But I can drink beer.
Thanks

Remove the internals (plunger/spring/o-ring) or replace with a nipple and install a shut off valve on hot outlet line.

Mfg. installs check valve cause they are easier and cheaper than a shut off valve.
Check valve is there for when WH tank is bypassed to stop water flowing backwards into tank.
Not needed if WH Tank is not bypassed.

It happens whenever the hot water is being used. The sound is just loud enough to be irritating.
When I removed what I thought was a check valve (it had some plumbing thingys inside it), I seriously considered getting a nipple to replace it with.
Obviously, a plumber I am not! But I can drink beer.
Thanks