One of our kitchen walls, located next to the water heater that's in the garage, is covered with paint bubbles. Any ideas about what this might be or how to fix it?

Occasionally a hissing noise accompanies the problem, but it seems to have quieted down. The bubbles are still there, though.

 

Welcome to the forums

Is the wall getting wet? When latex paint bubbles like that it usually means there is moisture under the paint. Check both sides of the wall for signs of dampness or water stains.

Sanding/scraping and spackling the affected areas will ready the wall for primer and paint, but if there is a leak it needs to be fixed first.

 

Sounds like a problem with the water heater. The hissing and moisture indicate that the heater is building up too much pressure and steam or vapor is being released. Do you have a pressure relief tank installed?

 

I have a pressure relief valve on the water heater. Does the water heater require regular maintenance to get rid of sediments and stuff? Could this be the cause of the pressure build and steam from the pipe inside the wall leading to the bubbles on the wall?
T-Y.

 

I would think that only extreme heat or a water leak would cause the bubbles. It is possible to have a part time leak - when the water pressure rises and the pressure regulator is defective or set wrong. There is usually a spigot at the bottom of the heater where you can drain water/sediment. The pressure relief valve should be plumbed to the outside although it may just be plumbed to the garage floor and directed away from the wall.

Where are the bubbles on the wall? High or low? The relief valve is designed to release water or steam if the pressure rises either from high water pressure or overheated water. This helps prevent the water heater from exploding.

 

Sorry wrong term. I meant an expansion tank. It supplements the pressure relief valve.
How old is the water heater?

It may not be the heater, but the coincidence of moisture and hissing is strong.