When you turn on your water heater, you expect hot water to flow out of it. That’s what it’s designed for. But if you’ve ever turned on your water heater and gotten cold or lukewarm water instead, you know that something isn’t right. And maybe it’s not just a problem with your water heater—maybe it’s a problem with how you use it.
We’ve all had problems with our water heater repair at one point or another, so we have much advice on fixing them.
Here, we’ll show you how to effectively turn off your gas or electric water heater so that you can prevent all those costly repairs. Let’s find out.
When Should You Turn Off Water Heater When Water Is Off?
If you’re like most people, the answer to this question is probably: “When the hot water starts feeling cold”.
But if you want to be sure your water heater is working at peak efficiency and that it’s not wasting energy—and money – by burning fuel when there’s no need, it’s important to know exactly when to shut off your hot water tank.
The answer depends on a few factors: what kind of tank you have, how much time has elapsed since you last used hot water, and how much gas/electricity it takes to keep the water hot. Here are a few scenarios when you should turn off the water heater:
- Extended Absence
If you’re planning to be away from home for an extended period of time, it’s best to turn off the water heater. This will prevent the heater from burning out and wasting energy while you’re gone.
- Maintenance or Repairs
If your water heater needs maintenance or repairs, turn off its power source immediately so no damage is done in the process of fixing it up.
- Water Supply Interruption
If you have a water supply interruption due to maintenance or an emergency, it’s important to understand how much time it will require for your water heater to cool down and refill itself with cold water. You don’t want to leave your water heater on for too long because this can lead to leaks and other issues.
- Turn Off Water Heaters During Winter
When temperatures drop below freezing during wintertime, there’s a chance that ice could form on the surface of your water heater tank and damage its interior components if it remains turned on for too long without being used regularly by residents within your community who rely on hot showers every single day in order to stay healthy.
- A Water Leak Or Flooding
When there is a leak or flooding inside your home, make sure to shut off all power sources that might be affected by the floodwaters—including your furnace and any electrical appliances like washing machines and dryers. If possible, leave them unplugged until they can be cleaned up or repaired by professional water heater repair and installation experts in Calgary. Otherwise, they could be damaged by floodwaters or electrocution if left plugged in while wet surfaces dry out over several days (which can take weeks).
- Emergency Situations
In an emergency situation, such as a fire or flood, turning off your water heater will help prevent further damage to your home. The last thing you want is for your water heater to burst into flames while you’re trying to save yourself and others from danger! So make sure you shut it down in case of an emergency.
- Power Outages
If there’s no emergency, but you do experience a power outage, then yes—turning off your water heater will help keep things running smoothly until power returns. If you don’t want to deal with any potential issues with freezing pipes or other problems caused by not having hot water during an outage, then definitely turn off your water heater! You never know how long it’ll be before the lights come back on again (or whether they will at all).
- Unusual Noises Or Malfunctions
If your water heater makes unusual noises or if it doesn’t seem to be functioning properly, you should shut it off at once. You don’t want to risk a leak that could cause flooding in your home. Also, if there’s a problem with the gas or electricity in your unit, it could cause an explosion. If you hear strange noises from your water heater, shut off the main valve and call a professional repair plumber in Calgary ASAP.
Importance of Turning Off Water Heaters
The name is a little misleading, but water heaters are one of the most crucial appliances in your home. They’re responsible for heating up the water that comes out of your taps, which means they help to maintain your home warm and comfortable.
But, as anyone who’s ever had a hot shower in the morning can tell you, they can get pretty hot themselves! That heat has to come from somewhere, and it’s usually generated by burning fossil fuels or other sources of energy like natural gas. In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 40 percent of all energy consumption in the USA goes towards heating and cooling buildings—and that number is expected to rise over time.
So if you don’t know how important it is to turn off your water heater when you aren’t using it, then this section is for you. Turning off water heaters is important for several reasons, including the following:
- Turning off your water heater can save you money
According to the American Water Heater Association (AWHA), shutting off a gas-powered unit for six hours can save up to $10 per month in energy costs. That adds up over time! So if you’re using a tankless system that heats constantly, this tip is even more important.
- Turning off your water heater conserves energy
According to AWHA, turning off a gas-powered unit for six hours can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 dollar per day and carbon dioxide emissions by 1 dollar per month. That adds up over time too!
- Turning off your water heater can prevent damage
Turning off your water heater when you’re not using it prevents damage to your home and property. When the pilot light burns out or if there is a leak in your home’s plumbing system, leaving the water heater running can cause extensive damage to floors, walls, ceilings, and even carpeting. This kind of damage can be very expensive to repair.
- Turning off your water heater can extend the lifespan of water heater
Another reason why it is important to turn off water heaters is because this will help extend the life of your unit. When you turn off a hot water heater, it allows the hot water pipes to cool down so they do not crack or leak over time due to excessive heat from being left on all day long when no one is home (or even at night).
- Turning off your water heater can help you comply with regulations
In many states, there are regulations that require building owners to turn off water heaters when they’re not in use or risk fines from local authorities. Not only does this reduce your energy consumption, but it also helps ensure that you’re following these regulations.
- Turning off your water heater gives you Peace of mind
You won’t have to worry about something going wrong with your hot water system when it’s turned off! And even if nothing does go wrong, at least you’ll know that nothing did go wrong.
How to Turn off Gas Water Heater
If you’re like most people, you probably have a gas water heater in your home.
This is a great convenience but also has a few downsides. For example, if you aren’t careful, you could end up with a hefty repair bill or even a fire. The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your gas water heater doesn’t cause any problems for you or your family.
In this section, we’ll talk about how to turn off the gas supply to your water heater and how to turn off the pilot light on your water heater. Here are some steps you need to follow to learn how to turn off hot water heater:
Step 1: Locate the gas control valve
You should be able to find it near the bottom of your water heater or on the side of it if you have an electric model. If you can’t locate it there, check out our guide on how to find your water heater’s gas control valve.
Step 2: Rotate the gas control valve to the “off” position
This will stop all gas flow into your water heater and shut down any pilot lights or other igniters that may be present. If there are multiple valves—for example, one that controls both heating and cooling—make sure they’re both turned off before proceeding to step 3.
Step 3: Verify the gas supply is off
Verify the gas supply is off. This means checking that there is no gas in the water heater. To do this, open up the pilot light cover and shine a flashlight into it—if there’s still flame in there, then you’ve got a problem.
Step 4: Confirm the pilot light is extinguished
If there is still flame in there, then try to extinguish it by turning off the power to your water heater (check your owner’s manual for instructions), then holding down on the knob until all of the fire goes out (usually about 10 seconds). If the fire doesn’t go out after 10 seconds, then repeat step 1 again.
How to Turn Off Electric Water Heater
It’s cold out, and you’re ready for some hot water. You go to turn on your electric water heater, but it won’t turn on. What do you do?
You don’t want to mess around with the electricity in your home, but you also know that freezing cold outside is not going to cut it when you’re desperate for a shower. It’s time to learn how to turn off an electric water heater.
Turning on an electric water heater is easy: just flip the switch. But what if that switch isn’t working? That’s when things get tricky – but don’t worry, we’ve got everything covered here. In this section, we’ll talk about how to turn off an electric water heater if it won’t turn on by itself. Here are some steps you need to follow to learn how to turn off a water heater:
Step 1: Locate the circuit breaker panel
The circuit breaker panel is usually found in the basement, utility room, or garage. It contains a series of switches or breakers that control the electrical circuits in your home.
Step 2: Identify the breaker for the water heater
Look for the breaker dedicated to the water heater. It is typically labeled as a “water heater” or may be marked with the manufacturer’s name. If you’re unsure, consult the breaker panel diagram or the user manual for your water heater.
Step 3: Flip the breaker to the “off” position
Once you have identified the correct breaker, switch it to the “off” position by pushing it firmly in the opposite direction. This action cuts off the power supply to the water heater.
Step 4: Verify power is off
To ensure that the power is indeed turned off, try running hot water from a faucet in your home. If there is no hot water, it confirms that the electric water heater is successfully disconnected from the power source.
Should I turn off my water heater when going on vacation?
The answer is a resounding yes. Turning off your water heater (especially if it’s electric) when you’re going on vacation is one of the easiest ways to save money. When the water heater is turned off, it won’t waste energy heating up water that doesn’t need to be heated. The only problem with this is that you may have trouble getting hot water when you return home from vacation. To avoid this problem, set up a timer so that your water heater will turn on before you arrive home.
Call Professional Water Heater Repair, Replacement, and installation Experts in Calgary!
The water heater is an essential part of your home. It heats up water for everything from making coffee in the morning to washing dishes at night, and it’s easy to take for granted until you need it.
When your water heater starts acting up, it can be frustrating and worrisome—especially if you’re unsure what’s going on or how to repair it. That’s why we’re here: we’re a team of expert technicians who know just how to handle any problem with your water heater. Whether you need repair, replacement, or installation services, ClearView Services will be there for you.
We’re fully licensed and insured in the province of Alberta. We’ve been providing our services for over 30 years and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Our customers love us because we always arrive on time, work quickly and efficiently, and leave their homes as clean as they found them (if not cleaner). Our team of experts has been servicing Calgary area homes and businesses since 1996, and we have thousands of satisfied customers in the region. We offer a wide range of water heater services, including:
- Water heater repairs Calgary
- Water heater replacement Calgary
- Water heater installation Calgary
- Water heater maintenance Calgary
Our technicians will come out and assess the situation; then, they’ll be able to tell you precisely what needs to be done and prevent future problems from occurring again. They’ll also give you a quote for their work so you know what to expect before they start making any repairs; that way, there are no shocks when it comes time for payment.
If you need repairs or any Water Heater Services and Solutions in Calgary on any type of water heater, including tankless or tank-type heaters, Call us at 587-912-1413.
You can rest assured that our technicians are trained professionals who will be able to quickly assess your issue and get it resolved like the wind so that you can go back to relishing your home without worrying about freezing water.
