Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Plumbing (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=259)
-   -   Can shutting the main water supply off and draining the system drain water heaters (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=673858)

  • Jun 22, 2012, 08:47 AM
    das6591
    Can shutting the main water supply off and draining the system drain water heaters
    We have a 2 story building with multiple suites and some of the suites have water heaters. We need to shut the water down and drain the system to replace a backflow. Can this cause the water heaters to drain??
    The shut off between the backflow and the building is old and we are afraid it may break if we try to shut it off.
  • Jun 22, 2012, 08:56 AM
    ballengerb1
    The heaters will not drain just because you closed the supply line and drained the rest of the system. However, you should shut off the heaters fuel while doing this work, just to be cautious
  • Jun 22, 2012, 09:28 AM
    das6591
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ballengerb1 View Post
    The heaters will not drain just because you closed the supply line and drained the rest of the system. However, you should shut off the heaters fuel while doing this work, just to be cautious

    Thank you
    The water heaters are electric and I am afraid if they drain they will burn out the elements.
    This is scheduled weekend work and at the last minute the backflow guy springs this on me.
  • Jun 22, 2012, 10:24 AM
    ballengerb1
    Shut off the breaker that powers the heater, just to be safe.
  • Jun 22, 2012, 01:43 PM
    massplumber2008
    The water heaters can be siphoned off if you don't close the cold water shutoff going into the heaters so I recommend shutting the cold water shutoff as well as shutting offf the breakers as Ballengerb1 mentioned.

    Good luck!

    Mark

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:28 AM.