Baseboard Heater Making Gurgling Noise? (Fix It Now!)

Baseboard heaters are a modern commodity in homes, but only when they’re working properly. Symptoms of a failing baseboard heater include loud gurgling noises, and it can be quite annoying. So, why is your baseboard heater gurgling and what can you do about it?

When a baseboard heater is making a gurgling noise, it is commonly caused by trapped air or water in the line. To fix this issue, you need to release the buildup of pressure in the system. It could also indicate that the heater was initially installed with improper alignment, in which case the solution is to thump your heating element with your hand to knock it in place.

That said, let’s take a look at why your baseboard heater is gurgling, and how you can fix it.

Your baseboard heater makes noise while you run out because of the heating element. The noise can become loud if your wall is warped or uneven, and it can be difficult to ignore. Baseboard heaters often make a buzzing, popping, humming, or gurgling noise while they run.

Water baseboard heaters are loud because of the way that hot water moves through them. The combination of hot water, aluminum, and copper creates a gurgling noise. Sometimes, the air gets trapped in the baseboard heater and it makes gurgling and popping sounds.

Baseboard heaters also make rumbling sounds if the water and copper become too hot. The hot water creates steam, and it can get stuck in your baseboard heater. Otherwise, it could indicate that your heating element needs to be replaced.

You can stop your baseboard heater from gurgling and making noise if you diagnose it. Pay attention to the sound that it makes, and it will tell you what the problem is. If you hear gurgling sounds, chances are that there is water trapped and you need to bleed the baseboard heater.

Turn off the breaker that controls your baseboard heater’s circuit before you do anything so you can work safely. Wait up to 25 minutes before you touch the baseboard heater because they stay hot for a long time. You will need several items to fix your baseboard heater, such as:

Now, you must expose the heating element so that you can treat it. Locate the grounding screws that connect the heating element to the casing. If you know how to remove a baseboard heater from the wall, you are probably familiar with this step.

Loosen the grounding screw in the center of the baseboard heater. Don’t fully remove the grounding screw, just loosen it enough that you could easily pull it out if need be.

As simple as it sounds, you can now bump the heating element a few times. Use your fist or palm to gently bump the heating element to give it throttle. This will loosen and reset the heating element in case the angle is bad due to your wall.

Tighten all of the screws that you loosened and put the cover back on your baseboard heater. Turn the power back on at the circuit and try to run the heater again to check for noise. If it still makes noise, you may need to have the heating element replaced by a professional altogether.

This is the simplest baseboard heater fix, and it can stop noises if the heating element is the problem. However, you may want to consider that air or water is trapped in the baseboard heater if it doesn’t work.

Most baseboard heaters come equipped with bleeder valves that let you drain air. Look at the bottom of your baseboard heater in the back where the water pipe comes out. You will find the bleeder valve right beside, although it may be covered by a safety panel.

Place a small bowl underneath the valve because water and steam may come out when you turn the valve. Open the panel and turn the bleeder valve clockwise to drain the air. Some baseboard heaters don’t have handles on their bleeder valve, and you’ll need to use a flathead screwdriver.

Close the drain and feeder valve when you no longer hear noise coming from the hose. First, close the feeder valve and then close the drain. You should have no problem unless your feeder valve is automatic.

In that case, you may have to let the water flow until it reaches the proper pressure. Most boilers will shut the feeder valve once the pressure hits 12 psi. Turn the boiler and thermostat back on to see if the fix worked and if it heats up quickly.

Your baseboard heater should stop gurgling and you may notice better pressure and heat from your boiler.

Trapped air and trapped water are the most common causes of a gurgling baseboard heater. You can release trapped air or water by draining the system from the bleeder valve. However, you may have to use the boiler drain and run a garden hose to it to remove excess air or water.

Faulty heating elements can also cause your baseboard heater to make a gurgling sound. Take apart the front of your baseboard heater and loosen the screws around the heating element. Give the heating element a thud with your hand and tighten all of the screws to fix it.

Be careful when you work with baseboard heaters because they stay hot for a long time. Use gloves and prepare yourself for a wet mess when you bleed the system.