Hissing water heater

[Allen in MT]

When we use out water heater on electric it starts giving a hissing sound kinda like a tea pot when hot. It does get loud, as soon as you flip the electric off it stops. It does not do it when on propane. Any ideas

also
The trim on our refrigerator when the wind blows we get a lot of draft from between the wood panel and the black trim strip that is around the fridg. Is there any way to seal this off?
thanks

[Ozz]

The calcium on the heater electric element is causing this sound: scale..

[richfaa]

The one in our stick home will do the same but it is far enough away that we do not hear it.Here in the 3400 everything is just a few feet away.

[moutard2]

Is there a "fix" other than replacing the heating element?

[Ozz]

You could drain the tank, pull the element and clean it, I wouldn't think the tank has a great deal of build-up in it because of the age, but some water is really hard. If it is bad, I would get a water softener, I have one, and the water is nice and soft.

[farmboy]

This is normal for an electric element. I have replaced elements in stick house heaters and they do the same thing. Even the top element which is very seldom used in a two element water heater as found in your house. JMHO.