We just bought an older home, the water heater is not that old though. We accidentally I think shut off the cold water inlet valve that lets the cold water into the water heater to fill it up, now we have no hot water because the handle on the valve broke off and the handle for the hot side was already broke off. My husband says we have to replace the valves. Is there an easy way to do this or any other way to get the valves open?

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We just bought an older home, the water heater is not that old though. We accidently I think shut off the cold water inlet valve that lets the cold water into the water heater to fill it up, now we have no hot water because the handle on the valve broke off and the handle for the hot side was already broke off. My husband says we have to replace the valves. Is there an easy way to do this or any other way to get the valves open?
You may purchase replacements for the handles nut if your shut off looks anything like this.(see image) simply take a pair of pliers and use them on the stem like a handle. Good luck, Tom