How to Shut off the Water Heater in Case of a Leak

If your water heater is leaking, you can minimize water damage by shutting off the source of water to the tank. 

But you need to take some precautions to ensure your safety. To shut off the water heater:

Turn off gas or electricity

To turn off the gas, go to the shutoff valve and turn it. For electricity, find the circuit breaker for the water heater and put it into the off position.

Shut off the water supply

Go to the water valve and turn the handle clockwise until the water stops running. If, for some reason, the water won’t stop, turn the water off for the entire house.

Drain the water heater. Attach a hose to the drain valve, which should be located near the bottom of the tank. Set the hose out to drain somewhere that rusty hot water won’t damage anything and open the relief valve. Before you do this, turn on a faucet in the house to let air into the tank.

Do you have a water heater emergency? Contact the experts at Agentis. We’re ready to help!