How to Turn Off a Hot-Water Heater

Turning off the hot-water heater involves shutting off power and water supplies.

If you need to repair your hot-water system or are going on vacation, it is necessary to turn off the hot-water heater. Turning off the heater when you are on vacation helps reduce your energy costs and also reduces the possibility of a malfunction while you are away. Turning off the system depends upon the type of power your hot-water heater uses.

Instructions

1. Go the electrical panel box in your home if you have an electric hot-water heater. Open the door and locate the circuit breaker for your hot-water heater; there is usually a schematic of the circuits on the inside of the door. Push the circuit breaker for the water heater to the "Off" position.

2. Turn the thermostat dial to the "Off" position if you have a gas hot-water heater. The thermostat is on the gas valve near the bottom of the hot-water heater tank.

3. Find the main valve on the house gas line near the hot-water heater; the valve is either a lever handle or a knob. Move the lever handle perpendicular to the gas line if you have a lever handle. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the gas supply if you have a knob valve.

4. Rotate the water-supply valve clockwise to shut off the water supply to the tank. The shut-off valve is on the plumbing pipe above the hot-water heater tank.

References

• Horizon Services: Emergency Hot Water Heater Shutdown Procedures