Video · Water Heaters
Water Heater Leaking: What to Do in the First Five Minutes
Water heater leaking? Here's what to do: close the cold water valve above the tank to stop the flow, turn the gas off, then call a plumber. A SwiftPro tech walks a homeowner through exactly that.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- Water Heaters
- Length
- 0:33
- Posted
- October 9, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
In an unfinished basement, a homeowner asks the question most people never think about until there's water on the floor: if this thing starts leaking, what do I turn off first?
The tech, bearded and in glasses, points to the shutoff on the cold water line above the tank. Close it, he says, and pressurized water stops feeding the leak. Then he points to the gas shutoff, the second step, before the plumber takes it from there.
In case of emergency, let's say I see water flowing out. What are the best steps as a homeowner I should What thing I should first turn it off, you know? What are the preventive first thing you want to do is turning the switch off right here. Turn the water supply off.
That's stops the water flow, right? Because once this is pressurized water going out, what is happening is by turning this off. That'll slow it down. And then you want to turn the gas off because everything's already turned off.
And then at that point, call the plumber and he'll tell you the next steps after that.
Why it matters in your house
- Find both shutoffs now, while the floor is dry. A valve nobody has touched in years can be stiff, and you don't want to learn that mid-leak.
- On a gas valve, the handle crossways to the pipe means off. On an electric water heater, flip its breaker instead, since heating elements burn out fast in a tank that's draining.
- Water from the fittings on top is often a fixable connection. Water from the tank bottom usually means the tank has rusted through and needs replacing.
What should I do if my water heater is leaking?
Close the cold water valve on the pipe above the tank. Turn the gas off, or flip the breaker if it's electric. If water is spreading, put down towels or a pan and move anything stored nearby. Then call a plumber. If you ever smell gas, skip all of that, leave the house and call the gas company from outside.
Want it done at your place? See Water Heaters at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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