Hello, I need to shut off the water to my condo in order to replace a shower body. There are no shut off valves for the shower feeds. My question is if I shut off the main valve to the condo will that only stop the cold water from entering the rest of the condo? The reason I ask is because, recently I replaced the heating element on the hot water heater and noticed it only had a shut off valve for the incoming cold water and no shut off valve for the hot water leaving the tank. So I'm wondering is the only way to do this to drain my hot water tank? Sheesh I hope not...

Thanks.

No you don't have to drain the hot water tank. But you need to turn it off for safety and shut the one hot water heater valve off. Let it cool some what. Now if it tries to back feed on a hot line you won't run the risk of burning out the elements.
Do your work on that fixture.
When done on the work turn on main water feed, open hot water shutoff. Bleed all hot water lines and cold lines at sinks and tub NOW turn on the hot water heater.


Signed 21 Boat

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Shutting of main water to condo will kill both hot and cold. The main water line supplyes the hot water heater, and every thing(hot and cold) in the condo.

The reason for the valve before the water heater is strictly for servicing the water heater. When you turn this valve off, it kills only the hot water.

Once again, shutting off main will stop all water to condo. You will be good to go for replacing shower faucet. No need to drain water heater. However, if hot water heater is located on a floor above the shower, I would also close the water heater supply vavle to prevent siphoning of water heater, Just remember to open it when all work is done.

Hope this helps, and if not, let me know and I will try to help further. If it does, please rate my answer. Take care,


LEE

Oops, I did it again,lOL

Thanks for your replies. So it seems like the consensus is to:

1. close water main valve.

2. electrically shutoff hot water heater.

3. close valve on intake of hot water heater.

4. drain excess water in hot and cold lines that are feeding shower.

5. replace shower body.

Do I have this right?

Thanks again folks.

Yep, you got it. Let us know how things turn out.

Thanks for the info. Probably won't get to this until the weekend but I'll let u know how it goes.

Thanks again.

Not exactly.

Add step 3a. Open hot and cold at lowest point in the system.
4. Open highest and furthest point to let air in to displace the water.