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View Full Version : Shut off gas to water heater if gone for 3 months


Joethe fixer
May 28, 2012, 07:59 AM
Live in Florida. Going northfor 3 months. Am going to shut off main water to home. Should I turn off the gas to the gas water heater also?

speedball1
May 28, 2012, 08:11 AM
Live in Florida. Going northfor 3 months. Am going to shut off main water to home. Should I turn off the gas to the gas water heater also?
Yes! Shutting off the utilities when going on vacation is the cheapest insurance you'll ever get. Have a great vacation up North wile the rest of us Florida residents stay down here and swelter. Tom

massplumber2008
May 28, 2012, 11:29 AM
As Tom said, shutting the water off is a great idea, but in terms of your water heater I would probably just turn the gas valve/thermostat down to the VACATION or PILOT LIGHTING setting and leave things that way. Be sure to note the original temperature setting on the gas valve/thermostat.

In this manner, when you come home you simply turn the water main back on, purge air through the lines until you get a good clear stream of water from all the fixtures and then just turn the gas valve/thermostat back up to the original setting and there will be no need to light the pilot or mess with the thermocouple if it fails, right?

Any questions just let us know, OK?

Mark