I have a leaky pipe on the hot water side that I'd like to fix. Following the pipes back to the water heater, I don't think there's a shutoff valve installed anywhere in the line, not even at the water heater outlet. At least, not one that is obvious for me to identify. How inconvenient!
I definitely have a shutoff valve on the cold supply inlet. What is the correct way to "turn off" the hot water so I'm not swimming when I disconnect the leaky pipe? The water heater is in the basement and the pipes in question are a few feet higher than the water heater.
Best Answer
My approach would be to turn off the water heater and the cold supply.
Then open a hot tap below, or as close to the area of the leak, to drain the hot pipe.
Then be prepared to catch the remaining water when you cut the pipe around the leak.
Supplement: One can get “ice clamps” that can be used to isolate either side of the leak but can be fun if the water pressure pushes the ice plug out...