How do I stop my water heater from whistling?

The water heater is an integral part of our homes. We use it regularly to take warm
showers or to clean up. We never pay much attention to it. But when it stops
working it creates a high pitch whistling sound that grabs our attention by force.
This sound is very unusual for a water heater as it doesn’t happen in normal use.
Possible reasons for water heater whistling
Although a water heater can whistle for a multitude of reasons some reasons are
quite common among them. These are often times the most likely causes behind
the noisy nuisance.
A cracked tank
If your water heater hasn’t had good maintenance over a large period of time the
tank might end up cracked. This crack mainly occurs due to corrosion. The air
which escapes through this crack can cause the whistling noise.
A loose drain valve
Sediment can begin to settle at the bottom of the tank of your water heater after
prolonged usage. Generally there is a valve present at the bottom to drain the
sediment. On some occasions this valve may come loose. When air passes through
this valve a whistling noise can be heard.
Worn inlet and outlet connections
Water heaters have two important connections. One of them lets cold water in and
the other one lets hot water out. Over time through wear and tear the quality of
these connections continue to degrade. This happens especially for the connection
of the hot water. This can result in some whistling when running hot water.
Due to the action of the Temperature Pressure Release Valve (TPR)
Water heaters come with a safety feature commonly known as the temperature-
pressure release valve. This valve is designed to open up when required and let
pressure escape through it if too much pressure is ever built up.
While under normal operation the pressure levels inside the tank should not reach
such dangerous levels. But if it ever does then the TPR valve will kick in and do its
job. Good news is this is a good thing because it means the TPR valve is doing its
job. But the reason for this high pressure buildup should be investigated properly.
There are a few common reasons for high pressure buildup.
Water is entering rapidly.
Too much sediment has built up in the bottom.
The temperature is set too high.
The thermostat is not functioning properly.
What steps to take to resolve the whistling problem
There are a few steps you can take to try and resolve the problem of your water
heater whistling. Before taking any of these steps you should be very careful and
turn of the water heater. Check if all the valves are fully closed or open.
Flushing
One of the primary causes for water heater whistling is the buildup of sediment at
the bottom of the tank. Flushing the water heater may resolve the issue. To flush
the water heater properly the following steps need to be taken with the utmost care.
Step-1