So the water is off. Great. But the tank is still full of hot water, lurking like a passive-aggressive ex. If you’re replacing the heater or fixing something below it, you need to drain it. Hook a garden hose to the drain valve near the bottom of the tank. Run the hose outside or into a floor drain. Open the valve and listen to the gurgle of shame as the water leaves.
Here’s a pro tip: open a hot water faucet in your bathroom first. This lets air into the system, so the water doesn’t vacuum-lock and refuse to drain. It’s the plumbing equivalent of saying “open sesame” but with less magic and more dribbling. Be patient—draining a 40-gallon tank takes about 20 minutes, or the length of one and a half episodes of your favorite sitcom.
And when you’re done, remember to close the drain valve. Then, slowly open your cold water valve again. Listen for the hiss. If you hear a geyser or a whistle, you did something wrong. If you hear nothing but silence, congratulations. You have tamed the hot water beast. Now go wash your hands—cold, obviously.
