Replies

1. 
   sungod | Aug 02, 2004 04:46am | #1

   Just turn the temperature kmob down

2. 
   Piffin | Aug 02, 2004 04:51am | #2

   I'd kill the flame as well. If any little thing went wrong and water back-siphoned out, the unit would be fried and the house might burn too. But I am thinking extended vacation. If only a week or so, don't sweat it.

    

    

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   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
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1. 
   Floorman | Aug 02, 2004 04:58am | #3

   I'm going away for 8 days. My dentist went away last year and his house flooded due to a break in the reverse osmosis system under the sink. 70K and several months later his house is back to normal. He now turns off the water whenever they go away. GW

1. 
   IMERC | Aug 02, 2004 05:56am | #4

   Kill the the gas too....

   Unplug everything you can....

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

2. 
   e2canoe | Aug 02, 2004 02:08pm | #5

   A cowoker of mine, Glenn, moved in with his new wife and had his old house on the market.  While inspecting the now empty house for a prospective client, a home inspector shut off the furnace and forgot to turn it back on.

   It was the dead of winter when this happened.

   A few days later, Glenn got a phone call from his old neighbour saying that there was water coming out of his basement windows!

   You guessed it.  The pipes froze, burst and filled the house to the sills of the basement windows in water.

   Just for fun: 45ftx35ft basement x 6ft to window sill = 9450 cu. ft. = 70,691 gallons of water.

   He sued the building inspector.  Not sure what the status of the lawsuit is.

3. 
   DanH | Aug 02, 2004 04:41pm | #6

   If you're going to drain the water heater tank, turn it completely off. If the tank will remain full just turn it to "pilot".

4. 
   DanH | Aug 02, 2004 04:45pm | #7

   Also note that there's no need to completely drain the lines. In fact, this is a bad idea unless freezing is a concern. Just shut off water (and WH) and then open a faucet slightly on the top floor so that no pressure/vacuum can build up in the system. Especially leave toilet tanks full so that the rubber in them doesn't dry out.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 02, 2004 07:13pm | #8

   BUT make sure that the washer valves are shut off.

   Some of them need pressure to stay closed. I have heard of cases like this where the main was shutoff and water pressure relieved, either by dessign or a leak (such as a toilet) and then all of the water in the pipes drained through the washer and overflowed.

1. 
   DanH | Aug 02, 2004 07:46pm | #9

   True. Though if the main is shut off then the amount of water in the pipes is generally insufficient to cause an overflow of a washing machine. A dishwasher (same concern) would be at greater risk.

   Another point to consider would be any hydronic heating systems. If these are left operating (unlikely in the summer, of course), then they may need makeup water (especially older, slightly leaky systems) and could be in danger of running dry if makeup water is shut off for an extended period.

1. 
   DanH | Aug 02, 2004 07:50pm | #10

   PS: I kind of personally favor simply shutting off the main cutoff and then opening it just a crack. Maintains pressure in the system, but flow is sufficiently restricted that a failure somewhere won't result in a major flood (though a minor one can certainly occur). Also, water can expand back into the main if necessary, so none of the dangers of a tightly closed system. With this approach the WH can be (relatively) safely be left on (though turning it off for $$ savings and to reduce the chance of a gas valve failure may still be a good idea).

2. 
   IMERC | Aug 02, 2004 07:55pm | #11

   Lack of water pressure can start the spihon (domino) effect...

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

3. 
   Piffin | Aug 02, 2004 08:48pm | #12

   That is the kind of situation I had in mind that can siphon all the water out of the water heater 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

5. 
   DANL | Aug 02, 2004 09:05pm | #13

   Anyone used the solenoids that sense water from a leak and shut a valve? Just wonder how well they work, how much they cost, etc. My dad lives in an old house and worries when he goes away that a pipe might burst. He normally turns the water heater down or off and shuts off the washer supply lines. When I lived at home, I came home for lunch and found the water heater tank had cracked and had put about a half inch of water in the basement. That was about two weeks after I told him the water heater looked bad and he had said it was good for twenty-five years and it had only been a little over twenty. Parents--whataya gonna do withem?

   
   

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   Edited 8/2/2004 6:02 pm ET by Danno