Turn the gas valve to pilot and leave it there. This way the pilot will stay on but it wont try to heat and you dont have to re light the pilot. Turn off the water supply valve to the heater. Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater and hold the lever open on the pop off valve towards the top of the tank. This will allow air into the tank and it will drain faster. If there is not a floor drain nearby you can hook a garden hose to the drain valve. When you are finished do not turn the gas valve back on until the heater is full of water. Open sink faucets when filling tank with water to avoid excess pressure.
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Turn the gas valve to pilot and leave it there. This way the pilot will stay on but it wont try to heat and you dont have to re light the pilot. Turn off the water supply valve to the heater. Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater and hold the lever open on the pop off valve towards the top of the tank. This will allow air into the tank and it will drain faster. If there is not a floor drain nearby you can hook a garden hose to the drain valve. When you are finished do not turn the gas valve back on until the heater is full of water. Open sink faucets when filling tank with water to avoid excess pressure.