Q: Why is my water heater making "popping" & "crackling" noises when we run the hot water? Is this dangerous?

A: The noise that you are hearing is probably caused by the mineral deposits that have built-up over time and settled at the bottom of the tank and are expanding and "bursting" from the heat of the burner assembly. This is commonly found in areas with hard water and is not dangerous but it may indicate an aging heater.

Q: Why does it seem that my water heater doesn't produce enough hot water.

A: The quantity of hot water that your heater puts out is approximately 70% of the actual heater capacity. This is because as hot water flows out of the heater, cold water is flowing in and mixes with the hot. Additionally, older heaters with an excessive amount of mineral build-up will exagerate this problem due to diminished water capacity.

Q: Why does my toilet flush by itself or always seem to be running?

A: Most toilets consist of a flush valve and a ballcock. In most cases, the problem is with the flush valve. This uses a rubber flapper assembly that when worn will cause the toilet to leak. In some cases the ballcock (or valve that supplies water to the tank) may also be worn. In either case, it's usually time to replace these parts and it is best to replace both of these parts at the same time.

Q: Why does my guest bathroom always seem to have a "sewer" odor?

A: If a fixture (like a tub, shower, or sink) is not used for a long period of time, the water in the P-trap will evaporate letting sewer odors come through the fixture. It's this water inside the P-trap that traps the odors in the sewer system.

Please submit your own plumbing questions to questions@thehandyplumber.com.

While the senarios above are common, they may or may not apply to each individual case.