I replaced my water heater 54 weeks ago ( G.E. electric 50 gallon ) 1 year labor 12 year parts warranty. Short lived hot water and a white noise sound at the farthest part of the house, my master bath. I called G.E. and because I'm an electrician, We ran threw the trouble shooting guide. Power to upper t-stat. Turned upper stat to minimum lower stat to high setting. Lower element has 240 volts. They sent me an element for the lower. Our plumber at work had me replace the cold water inlet gate valve with a ball valve. I took out the plastic fill tube, it's good. No sediment on old element. When I close the cold warer valve the white noise stops. I went looking for leaks in the attic and all other locations. The noise is as if I left a outside bib open. Like when I fill the pool. HELP!

HI Georgas...

Is this a SLAB HOME? If so, sounds like a leaking pipe going into the slab.

To check for leaks (slab or cellar) make sure all water faucets in the house are shut off 100% and then go and check the water meter... should be a little red triangle (or something similar... see image) and if it is moving then you probably have a leaker here (or at a minimum, a leaking toilet flapper).

Anyway, look at your meter and see if you have any indication that water is leaking by... spend some time.

Get back to me on being slab or cellar and let us know what else you think, OK?

Mark