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eracode

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#325013 27-Jun-2026 07:45
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Our hot water is provided by a Bosch on-demand gas-fired unit attached to the outside of the house. Sometimes when we turn on a hot-water tap, we hear a loud low rumbling tone in the plumbing that lasts for 15-30 seconds - then stops even if the tap is still running.

 

We’re keen to know what causes it and how can it be fixed? Our neighbours had the same system and also had this problem. When they called a plumber to come and fix it, he installed a whole new Rinnai Infinity unit. This sounds quite drastic to me. Surely there must be another way to fix it.

 

TIA





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gzt

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  #3506449 27-Jun-2026 08:26
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I have no idea. It sounds like trapped air recirculating somehow?



pih

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  #3506451 27-Jun-2026 08:36
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Ours makes a rumbling noise too, variable depending how much water we're using, it doesn't bother me but I think it's typical for these units. As for what's making the noise they vary by brand but they all have at least a few core parts: a solenoid to open the gas connection (may cause low humming or buzzing), a piezoelectric starter to ignite the gas/air mixture (that's the click-click-click at the start) and a fan to ventilate the unit and stop overheating. The most likely cause of your rumbling is the fan.

 

So a quiet rumbling is perfectly normal, but if it's loud and rattling then maybe yours is faulty? I don't know how repairable they are, but perhaps the fan bearings/bushes are worn, or there's some warping or loose panelling which causes rattling. If the unit is under about 5 years old it should be repaired or replaced free of charge (CGA).


eracode

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  #3506453 27-Jun-2026 08:45
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Thanks but it doesn't sound like a noisy fan at all. If it is a fan, it would probably be continuous but it isn't. It's very loud and it's not a rattle. I'm pretty sure it's something oscillating in the pipes and/or in the unit. On-line research mentioned maybe faulty or sticking pressure-check valve.

 

 





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  #3506696 28-Jun-2026 09:03
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What's your water pressure like? We have very high water pressure and especially when kids slam the tap straight from off to fully on it can vibrate badly and rumble for a bit, made worse by the fact that pipes run through roof and don't seem to have much support. Been meaning to get up there and see if some brackets or something might dampen\stop it. PS: though not a gas unit - just mains electric cylinder.





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eracode

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  #3506818 28-Jun-2026 10:47
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I have wondered about that. I have no objective way to measure it and don’t know for sure but my gut feel has always been that it’s relatively low.





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