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Can I shut off my water heater while on vacation?

Asked Jul 15, 2008, 08:08 AM — 14 Answers
I am going on two weeks vacation. I heard you should not turn off water heaters to save energy while gone as it may damage the water heater.

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14 Answers
N0help4u's Avatar
N0help4u Posts: 16,954, Reputation: 9423
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#2

Jul 15, 2008, 08:13 AM
There should be a spot on the temperature gauge that says
Hot/warm/vacation
I would just set it in the vacation range
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KISS's Avatar
KISS Posts: 12,602, Reputation: 4378
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#3

Jul 15, 2008, 08:34 AM
Turn gas to Pilot. Turn off breaker for electric.

Turning off the water is permissable too. Turn off water. Bleed off pressure. Assure temperature won't go below freezing.
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massplumber2008's Avatar
massplumber2008 Posts: 10,565, Reputation: 5092
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#4

Jul 15, 2008, 03:36 PM


Hi all:

While going on vacation I advise all my customers to shut off the WATER MAIN SUPPLY to house (shut off at water meter). This controls cold and HOT water and assures no major surprises when come home from vacation...

In terms of the water heater...like KISS said, if electric just need to shut off the breaker (or pull the fuses) at the electric panel.

If gas, you should just need to turn the gas valve dial to vacation setting or to the lowest setting on the dial of the gas valve...(as presented by NOHELP4U)

Be sure to note exactly where the dial is set prior to touching it. May even be a good idea to take a permanent marker and mark the starting position so when return from vacation you don't worry about remembering small issue like this... And you don't have to worry about someone getting burned because you set the dial improperly...

Check out the picture below...it is a gas valve..the dial is on front. Your gas heater gas valve should look similar. If you SQUINT your eyes you can see vacation setting on the dial face...this simply rotates left to reduce to vacation setting

Let us know if have more questions...

MARK
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Milo Dolezal's Avatar
Milo Dolezal Posts: 5,881, Reputation: 1933
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#5

Jul 15, 2008, 04:11 PM


Your heater has "Vacation" temperature setting. Set it to Vacation. Pilot will stay on but the heater will never turn on when temperature of water inside your tank drops.
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KISS's Avatar
KISS Posts: 12,602, Reputation: 4378
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#6

Jul 15, 2008, 04:34 PM
No Vacation setting I'm used to, just ON/OFF and Pilot. This is a two year old AO Smith.

This Vacation thing is new to me.
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Milo Dolezal's Avatar
Milo Dolezal Posts: 5,881, Reputation: 1933
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#7

Jul 15, 2008, 04:40 PM


KeepItSimpleStupid: Look at the posted photo of the temperature adjusting knob in post #4. Down on the right is "Vacation" setting. It is there exactly for that reason: for Vacations. Most heaters have this setting.
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KISS's Avatar
KISS Posts: 12,602, Reputation: 4378
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#8

Jul 15, 2008, 06:42 PM
Milo and massplumber:

I understand that the tstat pictured has a vacation mode, BUT this model, for example, http://www.hotwater.com/lit/im/res_gas/186589-000.pdf which is a current model from AOSMITH has on/off/pilot and NO VACATION MODE.

Yep, but each manufacturer does things differently and I thank you guys for pointing out an alternative.

I did, however, have the magnificent grasp of the obvious "Vacation mode" on the stat pictured in post #4.

I'll bet if the OP saw the markings "Vacation" they wouldn't even be asking this question. But then again my crystal ball needs batteries so I'm unable to determine if the OP has a gas or electric heater.
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N0help4u's Avatar
N0help4u Posts: 16,954, Reputation: 9423
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#9

Jul 15, 2008, 07:13 PM
I THINK the pilot mode functions the same as the vacation mode by keeping the pilot lite but not turning on to heat.
Don't quote me on that cause I don't want to be the cause of anybody's house blowing up!
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massplumber2008's Avatar
massplumber2008 Posts: 10,565, Reputation: 5092
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#10

Jul 16, 2008, 03:45 AM
Hi all...

Doesn't matter what the gas valve says on the face of the dial....why I said, "If gas, you should just need to turn the gas valve dial to vacation setting or to the lowest setting on the dial of the gas valve"

Some say vacation, some say pilot lighting, some say pilot, some say low, and others say nothing at all...just an arrow.

The gas valve itself also has an on/off/pilot button that gets depressed before lighting the thermocouple to the water heater. ELPILOTO needs to know that this button doesn't have to be touched and if touched may require him/her to have to relight the pilot ...that could be a bit troublesome if thermocouple is getting old.

Anyway, fact is that it is smart to lower the temperature setting to water heaters when going on vacation and ELPILOTO was misinformed when he/she was told that shutting/reducing temperature setting is bad for the water heater.

I also hope Epiloto will heed my advice on shutting water main before going on vacation. I also hope you guys will consider this practice, too as I have seen quite a few homes destroyed from a broken water pipe while owners were away on vacation!

Have a good day!

MARK
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