I have sounds coming from our tankless water heater. Should I be concerned?

– Nora

Hi Nora,

Gas tankless hot water heaters all make noise when firing up and heating water, but the levels are usually less than 90 decibels. A decibel meter can be used to find out how loud your tankless water heater actually is. If you have a smartphone, you can download a free decibel meter app called SoundLevel and measure the decibel output yourself.

If the noise occurs when hot water isn’t being used, there’s a good chance that another source is siphoning water from the line and creating a vacuum. If you hear a weird groaning sound from the pipes or the tankless hot water heater when you flush the toilet, that could be the culprit.

Even though a toilet only uses cold water, I have seen some toilets do this. In that case, you need to have a plumber install a check valve in the water line.

Good luck with your project,


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Danny Lipford

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Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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