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Water heaters are pretty low maintenance, but you should always be ready for any problems. What do you do if the hot water heater in your home malfunctions? Before you call a fast Heating Service take action first.

Turn Off the Electricity or Gas

The number one thing you need to do when it comes to a broken water heater is shut off the power source. This prevents further damage from happening and keeps you safe in the process. If your water heater has an electrical problem, consider turning off the circuit breaker in your home's main electric panel that controls the unit.

If you have a gas model, then you will want to turn off the gas supply valve on the unit. Typically, this is located near where the gas line connects with the water heater.

Turn Off the Water

You can turn off the water supply to your water heater by turning off the valve that is connected to your cold-water supply pipe. The valve is located just above the uppermost fitting on your water heater. Turn it clockwise until it is perpendicular to the pipe.

If you cannot find this valve, or you are unable to turn it off, most homes have a main water shutoff valve that controls all of the water coming into your home. This valve is normally located in a box in front of or near your house or inside a basement or crawl space.

Drain the Tank

The purpose of draining your hot water heater tank is to get rid of all of the water that could potentially cause damage, as well as allow you to easily access the bottom of the tank where most leaks occur.

If you don't drain your hot water heater, repairs will be harder and take longer because you'll need to wade through all that standing water. Additionally, if your hot water heater is leaking, all that excess water can cause further damage, such as wall and floor damage if your hot water heater is near a wall or in an area with hardwood floors or carpet.

Find a Plumber

Don't try to fix the problem yourself. You might think that you can handle whatever is wrong with your water tank, but unless you are a qualified plumber, you should leave this job to the professionals like Rob's Septic Tanks Inc.

Water heater repair can be a real pain to deal with. They are often big, bulky appliances, and there are quite a few different things that can go wrong. In most cases, when your water heater breaks, you should call someone to diagnose the problem and determine whether it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced.