Electric Hot water heater problem

When I use the electric hot water heater I hear what sounds like rocks tumbling in a rotating can. Sounds weird, anyone got any suggestions? The heater still works fine on propane, and I think it was working on the electric, but I stopped using it when I heard the noise. What ever it is, it will have to wait til spring since the 'Cat is now sleeping for the winter.
Jim

I remember someone else saying something like that, the issue was some kind of buildup on the heating element. I think he had to remove the element and clean it off.

Hopefully, he will chime in.

Sorry, no ideas, but sounds interesting. Could it have been that there wasn't enough water in the water heater and it was boiling??

The sound would stop when I turned the electric element off.

I would pull the element out and see what it looked like.

Yeah, I did a search after Tom posted and found the thread he was referring to. I might take it out and take a look, or just wait until the spring and do it then.
Thanks
Jim

Not sure if this is your problem but I know I read somewhere that the electric elements can actually cause a resonation if installed in the wrong orientation. Meaning, if the element is horizontal or vertical. One is corrrect and one isn't. I can't remember which. I think there may be mention of it on the packaging.