T&P valve on water heater

[polycarp]

I'm guessing my electric water heater is 12 years old. I just started hearing a "pop" sound occasionally from the water heater. I suspect this is the T&P valve causing the sound. There is no leakage from the valve or the water heater. There is plenty of hot water. Should I susect my tank is going bad and needs replacing? I would rather replace than run the risk of a flood. And would hate to pay plumber to work on tank this old. Does this "popping" indicate something worse will happen or the tank needs replacement?

[hj]

It might not indicate either, but could just be a normal sound that old heaters make when they heat the water. The T&P valve does not "pop", it just opens and closes gently. And if the pop was the heater failing it would do it once and then flood the area. A 12 year old heater could start leaking tomorrow, or it might last for another 5 years, and there is no indicator to tell you which could happen.