I want to turn off my water main to repair an outside faucet. Do I have to shutdown the water heater first? And after I turn the water back on, do I have to do something to "reboot" the water heater?
- posted
13 years ago
I want to turn off my water main to repair an outside faucet. Do I have to shutdown the water heater first? And after I turn the water back on, do I have to do something to "reboot" the water heater?
No need to shutdown the water heater, as long as your not draining it. Most times when you shut off the water main, water will remain in the HW heater tank.
No need to turn off the WH.
Just turn off the main and open as many faucets as you need to drain the system so you don't get the system full of water draining out of the one fixture you're working on.
As long as you are fixing the spigot, why not install a shut off for it so you don't have to turn off the whole house next time - or even in the winter?
One more tip: when you turn the main back on, turn it on full and then close it about an 1/4 turn - assmuning it's a compression style with a rotary handle. This gives you room to "play" if the main freezes up due to corrosion in the future. If you open it all the way against the stop, you won't have any "wiggle room" if it gets stuck.
This tip holds true for all compression style shut-offs, but is not (typically) a concern for ball valves.
james wrote the following:
After you repair what is wrong with the outside faucet, put a shutoff valve in the line so you don't have to shut down the whole house next time. Unless there is a shutoff valve there already and you can't find it. I have multiple shut off valves for everything that dispenses water in the house. Besides the ones under the sinks, bath, shower, toilets, or outside faucets, I have separate shut off valves in the source lines in the basement. If I have to remove the water softener, I have shutoff and bypass valves going into and out off the water softener, so the rest of the house does not have to do without water. It's similar to the the breaker box. You don't have to shut off the main breaker to repair an outlet, fixture, or switch.
outside faucet. Do I
re: "After you repair what is wrong with the outside faucet, put a shutoff valve in the line..."
Why can't he put the shutoff valve in first? ;-)
To "reboot" instal the CD that came with it.
Oh no...now he'll be posting back asking where he can download the activation key.
You should turn off the heater. Under normal circumstances, the water stays in the tank and is not a problem. But what about abnormal circumstances? Like you get distracted, or hurt...and the tank drains.
It takes two seconds to flip the switch to off. Why not take the precaution???
And that goes for any kind of repair. Don't skip simple steps that make the process safer or less vulnerable to screw-ups.
And before the villages light the torches to come after me, let me say... The fact that the statistical probability of having a problem is near zero is small comfort when it actually happens to you.
And after I turn the water back on,
no, but read the manual if you're unsure.
=3D=3D In addition to all of the other posting in reply, if you have a hot water tank heated by NG, you can just turn the control to PILOT for the time being while doing the repair. After the repair , just turn it back to the original setting. =3D=3D
Most WH manufacturers have the software as a free download.
Most WH, the serial number is the activation key.
What Roy was going to write, also. The white knob on top of the gas valve turns to pilot. Don't have to adjust the black knob on the side of the controls.
For electric WH, look in your panel box for a double 30 breaker.
The others have written much what I would have written.
It is a good idea to shut off the WH, though it's likely not a problem. Unlikely to need any reboot. Small chance that a gas WH pilot light may blow out. The provided software disk will help with rebooting. Insert disk before powering up.
You made it worthwhile booting up my computer today. Thanks for an excellent tip.
Nonny
Only if the water heater is made by Microsoft.
Hi, That is funny, our outside faucets are frost proof ones and each one has individual shut off inside. Don't need to shut off the main valve. Leave the water heater alone.
I was told it's full open minus half turn. So the next guy, if he turns it the wrong way. It will turn "some" so that he knows it's not a corroded and frozen valve stem. Then he will (maybe) figure out to turn it the other way.
Works on globe, gate, and angle valves. Ball valves don't have a half turn of play to work with.
We don't need no education! We don't need no shut off valve!
Hey! Plumber! Leave them pipes alone!
Sounds like a well planned system.
outside faucet. Do I
I debated about that, but "before you repair the faucet, put a shutoff valve in the line" just 'sounded' a little clumsy, although feasible. :-)
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.