State Flow Restriction / Partially Closed Valve

State water heater: whistling or high-pitched noise occurs when hot water is running.

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Possible Causes

Partially closed shutoff valve, Debris in the inlet or outlet, Partially clogged mixing valve, Scaled heat exchanger (tankless)

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Use caution around hot piping.

  • Check valves: Ensure the cold inlet and hot outlet shutoff valves are fully open.
  • Clean aerators: Remove and clean faucet aerators and showerheads.
  • Inspect mixing valve: If installed, service or replace a noisy thermostatic mixing valve.
  • Tankless descale: For tankless models, perform a descaling flush of the heat exchanger.
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Repair Difficulty

Easy 2/5

Required Part

Inlet Shutoff Valve or Mixing Valve
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