That “popcorn” noise used to drive me nuts too. The first time I heard it, I was convinced something was about to burst and flood the basement. Turns out, it was just sediment doing its thing. Like you said, flushing helps, but it’s not some magic fix.
One thing I noticed is if you don’t fully drain and refill, some of the loose stuff just settles back down, so it’s kind of a half-measure.
I’ve had the same experience. I tried the quick-blast method after watching a YouTube video—cracked open the drain valve for a few seconds, then closed it up. It did get out some gunk, but honestly, most of it probably just shifted around and settled again. The only time I really got the tank quiet for more than a few weeks was when I dragged everything outside and did a full flush. Not my favorite chore.
It’s wild how these things just keep chugging along as long as you don’t ignore them completely. I’m with you—if it’s still heating water and not leaking, replacement can wait. But man, they don’t make it easy for us to be lazy about maintenance...
