Should I turn off the main water valve when vacationing for a week?

[mmyk72]

My gas water heater simply has a red dial at the bottom. I just turn it all the way to the lowest setting (turn counter clockwise) - it's well labeled which end is high vs low.

The older WH probably has a pilot light and such, as described above

[snatale1]

In most cases it's really not necessary especially if you have a basement since it will hold heat. Simply shutting of the water isn't enough if your really concerned about a pipe bursting. After you shut off your main you then have to drain the house. Turn on an exterior hose and then open the hot and cold at the highest point of your house to release the vacuum. If you have an electric hot water heater MAKE SURE you shut it off before you shut off the water unless you want to replace it.

If you shut off the water without draining the house all the water is still in the pipes and can still freeze and burst. You won't push more water through them and won't flood your house but that's only half the issue.

Much easier to just leave a faucet at a slow drip like we do in the north east if you really think a pipe freeze could be an issue.

[Cali Doll]

Originally Posted by mmyk72

My gas water heater simply has a red dial at the bottom. I just turn it all the way to the lowest setting (turn counter clockwise) - it's well labeled which end is high vs low.

The older WH probably has a pilot light and such, as described above

You guys have been super helpful!! I can't thank you enough.

So, I carefully checked the water heater, and it also has the red nob, which reads, vacation, pilot, warm, hot. Right now, it's on hot. When I vacation, I'm going to turn off the main water valve and turn the HWH to vacation.