Reply #11: if there is a lot of water going everywhere you might be able to shut the supply line off

[Kali]

but also turn the heater off as well so you don't burn it up. there should be a shut off vavle somewhere near the water heater on the inlet pipe (it should feel cold compared to the outlet pipe if you can't tell any other way)

good luck - how nice to have a maintence guy! I do most of that kind of stuff around here.