After I take a shower when I go into the garage where the water heater is, it makes a popping sound. I assume its from the years of hard water deposits in the tank. I've started flushing the tank about twice a week to see if it would reduce the noise. Is there any harm in just letting it make the noise? Or should I get a water heater guy out to my home to take a look at it. I don't really want to spend the money on a new water heater. About 2 years ago I had a unit installed that is softening the water so there shouldn't be any new deposits. I've been noticing this noise about 6-8 months so it may not have to do with deposits.

Thanks,
Chris

This is usually a normal noise especially in the winter. You may have a build up even with the softener as the softener has salt which will build up inside the hot water heater. Keep flusing your system if it makes you feel better, but more than likely you will be replacing your hot water tank every 4 or so years anyway due to the salt build up. I know some people here in Ohio that go through hot water tanks in less than 2-3 years due to the mineral build up. You would have done better to get a whole house filter rather than a softener as the filter takes out stuff, the softener puts in salt (which is corrosive).