How to Turn Off a Gas Water Heater
Water heaters are used in homes to create a warm bath or shower. Warm water is used in bathing, laundry and cooking. If you have to replace, repair or remove a water heater, you need to turn off the gas. Gas leaks can be lethal, so this process should be taken very seriously.
- Shine a flashlight in the area where the gas water heater values are located. Depending on the age of your home or when the water heater was installed, locating this area may be fairly simple (visibly noticeable) or difficult to find.
- Remove any items around the water heater. Do not store combustibles or any other hazardous materials near the gas water heater.
- Find the control valve and turn it one-quarter to select the pilot option. Depending on the model, the control valve may be underneath the heater, to the side of it or in another area nearby.
- Turn off water that is connected to the water heater. You don’t want to continue filling the water heater while you are working with the gas.
- Turn the gas valve off. The valve can be found on the gas supply pipe connected to the tank.
- Use the flashlight to look in the area where the pilot light is lit. Make sure it is out. If there is still a flame, you have not properly turned off the gas.
- Smell the area to be sure there is not a gas leak. A gas odor means you have not properly turned off the gas.