[Zen99]

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.

I understand the turning down of the gas to vacation or pilot status. But turning off the main water supply means the plants don't get watered. Is it okay to turn off the water at the valve going into the water heater? Do I run risk of fire if the water inadverstantly drains out and the pilot is still burning?

[massplumber2008]

Hi Zen99,

You don't have to shut any shutoffs... just a nice thing to do if you can. You could certainly turn the cold water shutoff into the heater... no risk of fire if the tank drains (pilot would just keep burning in the combustion chamber).

Shut the gas valve to pilot or vacation and go on vacation knowing you saved some money while away... :)

Mark

[speedball1]

Zen and Mark,
Ya-all piggybacked onto a 2 year old thread so I'm giving you one of your very own.

Is it okay to turn off the water at the valve going into the water heater?

Mark answered;

You don't have to shut any shutoffs... just a nice thing to do if you can.

It's very seldom That I disagree with Mark but the cheapest insurance you'll ever purchase is to turning off ALL the water in your house, at the house shut offr, when you go on vacation.
Even small leak running 24/7 will flood your home Let me tell you what happened to a condo here in Florida. Winter residents, 6 mo. Here, 6 mo. Up north. I got a call that water was running out the front door. There was a fitting that had cracked on the kitchen sink and had been running for weeks. That water had got up into the drywall and black mold was all over the place. The smell would knock your socks off. The moisture had got into the veneer and peeled it back on all the furniture, the carpet was shot. All the drywall and insulation had to come out and be replaced . Total cost of repair and replacement. $32,000. All this could have been avoided if the main water had been shut off. Yes, it's a good Idea to shut the water off at the house shut off. If you shut off the water at just the fixtures the condo will still be pressurized. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. TOM

[massplumber2008]

Tom...

No disagreement here... I completely agree with you.

However, it sounds like Zen may have a sprinkler system in place (They said, "But turning off the main water supply means the plants don't get watered" so I am just guessing here) and cannot isolate the system. With what landscaping plants and planting costs nowadays I'd worry here, too!

Anyway, perhaps Zen will come back and let us know what they think...

Have a great day!

Mark

[speedball1]

I understand the concern Zen has for his plants and the reason you gave the advice that you did.
Your advice was correct for the question but I addressed the bigger picture. I still remember my shock after seeing the damage done by a tiny crack in a angle stop.
Ever since then I advise that all water should be shut off to the house upon leaving for a extended time. If watering the lawn is a prime concern then I would ask a neighbor to walk over every few days it doesn't rain and turn the sprinklers on and off.
Zen, Mark gave you the correct answer to your question. It's just that I have a real thing about this.
Have yourself a great vacation, Tom

[massplumber2008]

Not to hijack this thread, but in my area when the people visiting your neck of the woods to avoid the cold/freezing conditions up here go away and have heat pipes burst I have seen floors with 5-6" of ice and entire floors so frozen and warped that the entire house had to be completely gutted back to the studs to fix all!

I even got called in on one of these where the neighbors noticed water/icicles on windows and called cops that broke the door down to find ice and water damage everywhere. They called me in to isolate everything and then had to leave a sad note for the homeowner when they returned as no one in the neighborhood had a number to contact them in Florida....what a mess!

See pic. of similar situation...

As you said, Tom, "Yes, it's a good Idea to shut the water off at the house shut off."

Mark