How to Stop a Water Heater Leak

CONCORD — If you discover a leak in your water heater, the first thing you should do is turn it off to prevent further leakage. However, in order to do so, you’ll need to know the correct procedure. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Turn off the water heater’s shut-off valve. Typically, this is found on the right-hand side of the tank. Grab the valve handle and rotate it a quarter-turn; this should stop water from entering the tank.

If the shut-off valve isn’t working, you may need to shut off water to your entire home (depending on how bad the leak is). Every homeowner should know the location of their home’s main water shut-off valve—it’s either just outside the home or at the sidewalk. This shut-off valve can also be used to prevent water damage in the event of a broken pipe or other major leak.

2. Turn off the gas. There are two ways to turn off gas to a water heater, the primary being the gas shut-off valve on the tank itself. Just like the water shut-off, give this valve a quarter-turn. If the valve isn’t working, you can shut off the gas via the water heater’s thermostat. Simply rotate the dial until it reaches the “Off” setting, which will extinguish the pilot light.

3. Call a plumber. Before calling, locate and write down your water heater’s model number and serial number. This information will let your plumber know what to expect before arriving.