When a water heater starts leaking, the first minutes are spent finding valves. In many Orange homes the heater sits in a garage corner or a hallway closet, the main water shutoff is near the front of the property, and the breaker panel is on an outside wall. Walking the house once with this worksheet, and taping a copy near the heater, turns a scramble into a short routine.
Fill it in on a calm day. Test that each valve turns, but don't force a stiff old valve. Note it instead and ask a plumber to look at it.
Shutoffs to locate and record
- Cold-water inlet valve on the pipe entering the top of the water heater (handle type: lever or round)
- Gas shutoff valve on the line to a gas heater, usually within a few feet of the unit
- Gas control knob on the heater (On, Pilot, Off positions)
- Breaker for an electric heater or for a tankless unit's power, with its number in the panel
- Main water shutoff for the house and any tool needed to turn it
- Gas meter location, so you can tell responders where it is
- Floor drain, pan drain or outside spot where a hose can safely discharge
My shutoff map (fill in)
| Item | Where it is | Turns freely? (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|
| Heater cold-water valve | ||
| Heater gas valve | ||
| Heater breaker number | ||
| House main water shutoff | ||
| Gas meter | ||
| Drain or hose discharge spot |
Using the map in a leak
- Smell first.If you smell gas, skip everything else: get out and call 911 or SoCalGas from outside.
- Water off.Close the heater's cold-water valve, or the house main if that valve won't turn.
- Energy off.Turn the gas control to Off or Pilot, or switch off the heater's breaker.
- Clear the area.Keep children and pets away from hot water on the floor.
Questions to ask at your next plumber visit
- Is my heater's cold-water valve in good shape, or should it be replaced?
- Is the main shutoff easy enough to reach and turn in an emergency?
- Does my gas heater have its own accessible gas shutoff?
Common questions
What if my heater's cold-water valve is stuck?
Don't force it, since an old valve can break. Use the main water shutoff in an emergency and have the heater valve replaced.
Where is the main water shutoff in most Orange homes?
It varies. It's often where the supply line enters the house or near the front hose bib. The city's meter box valve is generally for utility use.
Should every family member know this?
Yes. Walk anyone old enough through the map, especially the gas-smell rule: leave first, call from outside.
General information for Orange, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.