Emergency guide

Your water heater burst at 2 AM. Now what?

Water on the floor, hissing, panic. Do these three things in order — it takes under five minutes and limits the damage enormously.

1. Shut off the water

Find the cold-water shutoff valve on top of the heater (usually a lever or wheel on the inlet pipe) and turn it clockwise until it stops. If you can't find it or it won't budge, shut off the main water valve to the house — typically near where the water line enters, often in the basement facing the street.

2. Kill the power or gas

Electric heater: switch off its breaker at the panel. Gas heater: turn the gas control knob to OFF (or "pilot"). Water and live energy don't mix — do this before wading in.

3. Call a plumber — now, not morning

A burst heater won't wait. Water keeps wicking into drywall and subfloor by the hour. This is exactly the call plumbers take at night: find an Erie plumber and describe "burst water heater, water shut off." Expect an emergency dispatch fee on top of the replacement — that's normal at 2 AM.

What not to do: don't try to drain the tank yourself in the dark, don't touch anything electrical while standing in water, and don't assume it'll "hold until morning." It won't.

What it'll cost

A standard 40–50 gallon replacement in Erie typically runs in the low four figures installed; emergency after-hours service adds a premium. Get the model number off the heater's label before you call — it speeds up the quote. More detail: plumber costs in Erie.