When moving a water heater, don't forget how cumbersome and dangerous the job can be. You will want to enlist the help of another person, and you must always remember to take a few necessary precautions.
First, you must turn off the power to the water heater. A volt meter will tell you whether or not there is a current running to the unit. Water and electricity can be a deadly mix, so always take care to keep them isolated from each other.
Second, turn off the water supply and drain the tank. Provide a location for the water to drain that has the capacity of handling a large volume, such as a bathtub.
Next, disconnect the electric. To do this, remove the electric connection cover plate at the top of the water heater and unscrew the wire conduit connector revealing the heater power connections. Remove the set screws for the black, white, and ground wires. The tank should now be completely disconnected from all wires and pipes.
Place a bucket below the drain valve and have someone help you tilt the tank so that the remaining water drains into the bucket. (Be careful, for the tank is heavy!) When the tank is completely drained, close all valves and plug all openings so that water will not drip when moving the water heater.
Now, you will be able to (with the help of a friend) move the water heater onto a dolly and to a new location.
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