Water Heater Maintenance - Water Leaks

Jim Connors: Hi! I am Jim Connors with Rheem Manufacturing Company. I am showing you today how to maintain your water heater and now I am going to provide you some tips on what to do in the event of a water leak. Check for signs of water leakage around your water heater as part of your routine maintenance. In the event of a water leak, shut off the incoming water supply and the power or gas supply to the water heater. For a gas water heater, look for the pilot control knob on the top of the gas valve located at the bottom of the water heater. Turn the control knob to the offsetting. You can also turn off the gas supply by closing the gas supply valve on the gas supply line. This valve is normally located within a few feet of the water heater and may have a red handle. Turn the handle clockwise to shut off the gas supply. Turning off an electric water heater is easy; just shut off the breakers.

A water supply shut off valve should be located above the water heater on the cold water supply pipe. The valve commonly has a colored handle. Turning the handle clockwise will turn off the water coming into the water heater. If necessary drain the water heater to prevent any water damage, attach a hose to the drain valve located at the bottom, run the hose to a drain or a location outside the home. Remember, the water may be hot so use caution and keep the hose off the lawn and away from children. Open the drain valve and a hot water faucet in your home to drain the water from the tank. Contact your plumber or service provider for assistance. I hope the tips provided in this video will help you to maintain your water heater and thanks for watching.