How do I shut down a leaking water heater?
When water heaters start to leak from the bottom of the tank, it’s already a sign that it needs to be replaced. In the event of a leaking water heater, there are certain steps that you need to follow to perform an emergency shutdown.
Shutting down your water heater allows you to prevent the leak from getting worse and save you money in the process. Listed below are the general steps on how you can shut down your water heater.
First, you turn off the power source. This could either be GAS or ELECTRICITY.
- For gas water heaters, twist the dial on top of the thermostat from the ON to the OFF position. Turn off the gas supply valve at the water heater by twisting the red knob clockwise till it stops.
- For electric water heaters, switch the circuit breaker for the water heater to the OFF position.
The next step is to turn off the water supply. Simply turn off the water supply by turning the handle clockwise until it stops.
Once the water supply and the power supply are turned off, it’s time to drain the water heater. Attach a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and run the other end of the house to a lower place to drain rusty hot water and sediments without causing damage. Open a hot water faucet in the house to let air into the tank.
Lastly, open the relief valve to allow air in. Do this by flipping the handle up so that it sticks straight up or out. Be careful of scalding hot water.
