[HayZee518]

Propane and Natural gas heaters over time develop a scale inside the tank especially at the bottom. If not flushed on a regular basis this scale builds up and may trap air inside - like a bubble - when heated these bubbles expand from the heat and may pop causing noise. The gas burner heats the bottom of the tank much like a tea kettle. Hot water rises to the bonnet and sits there waiting to be used. I don't know what canoebuilder means by the element going haywire. It's either good or bad no in between. The element is a calrod unit. a copper or stainless tube filled with a refractory sand with a nichrome wire [element] inside. the element needs to be fully covered by the water to function otherwise it will always burn up.