When my front loading washing machine is adding water in up to 7 spurts at the beginning of the wash, there is a loud banging/clanking noise that occurs with each spurt. Several pipes have been checked by a plumber to see if loose and air resistors have been placed on both the hot and cold water faucets on washing machine. Noise still there and is coming from the water heater closet that is located in the house. Plumber is out of ideas. Could the issue be the heater nipples on the water heater? No other issues from the water heater at this time. WH is six years old. Thank you

I may have a answer for you but first I have to know if your water heater is electric or gas. My bet's on gas. Back to you, Tom

Thank you, Tom. I really appreciate any advise you can give me. My water heater is gas. Kathy

Hey Kathy,

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Plumber is out of ideas.

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Well this plumber still has a few left. Let me take the mystery away from this.
If you do not flush,(not drain) your heater on a regular basis it will build up mineral on the bottom of the tank. When the flame comes on it turns the water trapped under the mineral to steam and the steam escaping is what you hear. Let me show you how to flush your heater. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run until the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) and some white grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). The whole thing shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. You might want to consider cleaning the screens on your aerators if you have a high mineral buildup. If the problem still persists after you have flushed, you will have to drain the heater, remove the boiler drain and go up in the bottom of the tank with a wood or plastic rod, (not metal) and try to break up the mineral and flush it out. Good luck and thank you for rating my answer, Tom