Turn off water when going on vacation?

[srs]

I live on a well and have propane for my hot water heater, furnace, dryer, stove, and gas fireplace. I got into a discussion with a neighbor over whether you should shut off the water when you go on vacation, or just leave it on. He said you should turn the main water supply off, switch the well pump circuit breaker to the off position and also shut off water to the hot water heater. I can understand the first two but I would think that shutting water off to the hot water heater could be dangerous as it won't be filling up yet the water will still be heated. We never did agree to what is the best and SAFEST thing to do. Any thoughts?

 

[smstonypoint]

Just curious -- I have never used propane. Is it much of a hassle to cut off the hot water heater?

The wife and I split our time between SC with a county water supply and NC with a well. We have electric water heaters at both locations. When away, I turn off the water (SC -external valve, NC - well pump circuit breaker) and the electric hot water heaters at their respective breakers.

I am hazy on this, but I seem to recall a plumber telling me that leaving a hot water heater on for extended periods without the water being circulated with use can reduce the life of the heater. So, I am saving on my electric bills and hoping that I am extending the lives of my water heaters.

Steve

 

[DKCDKC]

An empty electric water heater will burn out in moments. I always pull the breaker on a water heater if it's not needed for an extended time. Not only is it safer, but it saves money. Even the most efficient water heater loses heat in lines and through its jacket. Leaving it on will cost real money that is ultimately wasted.

I don't know about gas water heaters, but it would seem to me that a heat source under a dry tank will do no good to the equipment.

 

[srs]

Just curious -- I have never used propane. Is it much of a hassle to cut off the hot water heater?


Steve

I can shut off the propane at the water heater but then I would have to relight the pilot light with a match. Thanks.

 

[clemsonfor]

At my farm property i drain the water lines with a valve, and turn the breaker to the electric water heater off. With no water in you will burn out elements. I dont drain the water heater but im sure its less than good for it to heat it for absolutly no reason for months on end. And it costs about $20month to rn it!

 

[srs]

We were only talking about a week away, no more. My thought is just leave the system alone and not turn off the gas or circuit breaker. Thanks.

 

[hosspuller]

I have a well pump and a propane water heater.

After several friends had severe floods in their homes and I had a flood from a broken pipe ...

When leaving home overnight, I turn off the breaker to the well pump. My reasoning is, the well pressure tank continues to provide water to the ice maker and water heater. Yet if a leak or broken pipe happens, its limited to the volume in the pressure tank. This has worked for a week at a time. The pressure tank still had pressure after the week and I had a freezer full of ice cubes.

For a longer time period, I turn the gas heater to pilot only, then there's little risk of overheating the water heater. 50 gallons of water will dissipate a pilot's heat

 

[EE_Bota]

I live on a well and have propane for my hot water heater, furnace, dryer, stove, and gas fireplace. I got into a discussion with a neighbor over whether you should shut off the water when you go on vacation, or just leave it on. He said you should turn the main water supply off, switch the well pump circuit breaker to the off position and also shut off water to the hot water heater. I can understand the first two but I would think that shutting water off to the hot water heater could be dangerous as it won't be filling up yet the water will still be heated. We never did agree to what is the best and SAFEST thing to do. Any thoughts?

When I go away for vacation, I see it is an opportunity to do a test: Do I have leaks anywhere?

I raise the arm on the icemaker, turn off the pump breaker, and turn off the hot water heater breaker.

When I return after vacation, I turn on the water spigot, expecting to find plenty of water available. If so, I let it all run out on the ground, then turn on the pump breaker, then turn on the hot water heater, but leave the ice maker arm up until almost all ice is gone. Frequently, this is not necessary, since I sometimes take all the ice with me when I leave...chilling beverages.

 

[srs]

Hosspuller, that makes a lot of sense. I know when we've lost electricity due to a storm we still had water to flush the toilets, wash our hands, etc. Wasn't great pressure but I'm figuring there was water in the well tank in the basement that still had some pressure to it. Thank you.

 

[Bird]

Just curious -- I have never used propane. Is it much of a hassle to cut off the hot water heater?

The wife and I split our time between SC with a county water supply and NC with a well. We have electric water heaters at both locations. When away, I turn off the water (SC -external valve, NC - well pump circuit breaker) and the electric hot water heaters at their respective breakers.

I am hazy on this, but I seem to recall a plumber telling me that leaving a hot water heater on for extended periods without the water being circulated with use can reduce the life of the heater. So, I am saving on my electric bills and hoping that I am extending the lives of my water heaters.

Steve

Me, too, Steve. If anything in the system, water heater, faucets, lines, etc., should spring a leak while we're gone, you can just imagine how much flooding could be done in a week. Here in town, I'll shut the water off at the meter and turn the breaker off for the water heater.