Let's imagine the worst-case Saturday: you open the basement or garage door and water is spreading across the floor from the water heater. Your pulse is up, the cat is annoyed, and you're wondering what to grab first. Here's the good news — the correct response is short, simple, and you can do it in under two minutes. Take a breath, and work the list.
Step one: stop the water
The single most useful thing you can do is shut off the cold-water inlet valve above the heater — usually a handle or lever on the pipe going into the top of the tank. Turn it clockwise (or a quarter-turn, for a lever). This stops new water from feeding the leak, which matters more than anything else right now. If you can't find it or it won't budge, the main house shutoff is your backup.
Step two: cut the energy
Water and energy don't mix. For a gas heater, turn the gas control valve to the off or pilot position. For an electric heater, go to your breaker panel and switch off the heater's dedicated breaker — usually a double breaker labeled clearly. Don't skip this because you're in a hurry; a heater trying to fire or heat while compromised is how a water problem becomes a safety problem.
Step three: protect what you can, safely
Move boxes, tools, and anything valuable out of the water's path — but don't wade through standing water to be a hero, especially near electrical outlets or the heater's own components. If water is near anything electrical, give it space. Towels and a wet-vac come later; right now, containment and safety are the job.
Things to avoid
Don't try to disassemble anything while water is flowing — you'll just get wet and frustrated. Don't cap or plug the T&P discharge pipe if that's where water is coming from; it's doing its job. And don't restart the heater to 'see if it's okay now.' Leave it off until someone qualified has looked at it.
After the flow stops
Once the flow is stopped and the unit is off, document a little: where does the water seem to be coming from? Take a photo if it's safe. Then call (833) 713-2101 and say it's an active leak — describe what you see and what you've shut off. We'll talk through what's happening and what the visit will focus on: making everything safe and dry, finding the true source, and giving you the honest repair-or-replace picture.