When your water heater begins to leak, you have  to service it fast. We'll show you how to install your own water heater in less  than a day. 
                                   
Turn off the water heater by turning the nearby shutoff valve a quarter turn.  Shut off the main water supply as well and drain the lines by opening a faucet  on the lowest floor. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and drain the  water left in the tank. Caution: The water will be scalding hot! Disconnect the  line at the nearby union with a pair of wrenches and unscrew the pipe from the  control valve with a pipe wrench. Unscrew the vent pipe from the vent hood and  move it to the side. Then cut the hot and cold water lines with a tube cutter.  Reconnect the line. Coat the threaded ends with pipe joint compound and screw  the first nipple into the valve.  
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