How To Turn Off Your Water Heater

When you’re in the midst of a plumbing emergency, that’s not the time to research how to turn off your water heater in Denver, Centennial, or the surrounding area. Many homeowners find themselves scratching their heads, wondering which valves to turn! And because it varies based on whether your system is gas or electric, it can take a few extra steps to ensure everything is shut down completely.

So, the Centennial and Denver plumbing pros at Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical have put together some easy instructions to turn off both gas and electric water heaters to ensure you do it properly.

Read on to learn more or give our Denver or Centennial plumbers a call if you have any questions or need to book service!

When You Should Turn Off Your Water Heater

Some homeowners think they need to turn off their water heaters before they go on vacation. First, when you turn your water heater off completely you will return home to find you have no hot water. Second, you can add wear and tear to your water heater from the effort required to shut down, and then heat an entire tank of water. It makes more sense to either lower the temperature to about 50 degrees F or to set your water heater to VAC for “Vacation Mode”. Most new models provide this handy setting.

The only time you need to turn off your water heater is when you have a leak. This can happen for many reasons from age and rust to a malfunction with the valve. As soon as you realize your water heater is leaking, you should turn off the water supply until a plumber can determine what is causing the leak. They will make repairs or suggest a replacement if the tank can’t be repaired.

How to Turn Off a Gas Water Heater

1. Find the temperature dial. It is usually at the front on the bottom. Turn the dial off.

2. Find the plumbing line. The plumbing line is either at the top or bottom of your water heater. Once you turn the valve off, you have successfully cut off the water supply.

3. Drain the Heater. To drain the heater, you’ll need to connect a hose to the boiler drain. Put the other end of the hose outside to let the water drain into your yard or drain into a bucket, depending on how much water is in your tank.

4. Locate the gas supply valve. The valve is usually on the right side of the water heater. To shut off the gas you either have a lever or a knob. If it is a lever turn it perpendicular. For a knob, turn it clockwise.

5. Locate the relief valve. The final step is to look for the relief valve near the top of the heater. Once you turn it off it allows air to enter the tank.

How to Turn Off an Electric Water Heater

1. Find your breaker box. In most cases, the box is located either in the garage or on the exterior of your house. From there, find the breaker line providing power to your water heater and turn it off.

2. Find the Plumbing Line. The plumbing line is either at the top or bottom of your electric water heater. Once you turn the valve off you’ve effectively cut off the water supply.

3. Drain the Heater. As with gas water heaters, you can attach a garden hose to the boiler drain. Either put the hose outside to let the water drain into your yard or use a bucket.

4. Locate the relief valve. The final step is to turn off the relief valve to allow air to enter the tank.

Get Expert Water Heater Help Today!

If you are having issues with your water heater or can’t figure out how to turn it off, speak to your Denver plumbing experts at Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical today!