Hello,

Have the typical gas fired hot water heater in house; the vertical cylindrical kind.

Never thought about this much, but after plumbing sprang a pinhole leak, thought I'd better.

When going on summer vacation, I guess the smart thing would be to just turn off the house water, and put the gas contgrol on PILOT. Any caveats to this, or reasons not too ?

In Winter, I'm a bit more concerned. Do exactly the same thing ?

House has a forced hot-air furnace, so I don't have to worry about always having a water supply to it, which I think, but am not sure, the building codes require.
Again, simply put on PILOT and shut the house water off ?

If there ever is any sort of leak or other problem with my gas fired water heater, is there typically a thermal shutoff that would take care of things, winter or summer ?

Any thoughts on all of this would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Yes, if you are leaving for any length of time shut off the house main supply and turn the water heater to pilot only, simmer or winter. The pilot keeps moisture from building up in the combustion chamber. Regarding your last question. Lets say you leave for a month but leave everything turned on. The heater springs a good size leak. The tank will continue to drain 24/7 and refill 24/7 and it will be heating almost every minute of the day, no thermal shutoff

I agree with Bob. The best insurance you can buy is to turn off the water at the main supply valve. This true whether you have a history of pin hole leaks in pipe or not. Think about what would happen if you are away for a week and a washer hose burst. What if a supply tube to a faucet or toilet on the top floor came apart (I've seen it happen). Or during the winter months, the electricity went off, your heating system failed and pipes froze and burst (I've seen it happen). Turn off water and turn water heater to vacation or to pilot.

Took me about 6 months to convince the wife of this. She didn't want to do it because the neighbor would be coming in to water her plants. Well, leave her bucket of water.

Yep, neighbor was on a trip and his 3rd floor toilet supply line cracked. Leaked for 3 weeks,house was nearly totalled by the insurance compny with $375,000 in repairs. Insurance paid everything except his $3000 water bill which he had to pay.