It’s not uncommon for hot water tanks to develop a buildup of minerals at the bottom of the tank, which can make popping and crackling noises as it heats. Whenever there is a large amount of mineral build up at the bottom of the tank, this increases the amount of energy needed to heat the water in your tank. One way to help reduce this build up and increase the life of your hot water tank is to install a water softener which will help by preventing further buildup.