When your water heater begins to leak, you have to replace it fast. We'll show you how to install your own gas water heater in less than a day.

Turn off the gas to 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 gas line at the nearby union with a pair of wrenches and unscrew the pipe from the gas 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 gas line. Coat the threaded ends with pipe joint compound and screw the first nipple into the gas valve.