Noob question about hot water heater

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BrianLH

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Our upstairs hot water heater (Rheem 81sv40D, fwiw) sprung a leak. We turned off the power and water while we wait 5 days for the insurance company to send someone out to look at it. Of course, it's still leaking (from the bottom) and causing water damage below.

Noob question: Does only water to be heated go through the hot water heater or does all of it? The reason I ask is that I want to drain the unit to stop the water leak, but do we open hot water taps or both?
 

Reach4

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Only water to be heated goes through the water heater. Usually there is a valve that you can close at the input to the water heater.
 

BrianLH

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Yep, I closed that valve and drained the tank using the tap at the bottom of the tank. I was just curious if both temps travel through the tank. Thanks for the info!
 

Terry

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If you have to wait days for the repair, I would take the water heater out of the loop, but installing a flex between the hot and cold.
Right now, anytime someone opens a faucet that mixes, you can get water from the hot side, which puts water back into your tank, even if the cold supply is shut off.
 
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