Turning off power while gone for extended period of time (heater, appliance)
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It seems to me that if you were to turn off the water heater, it would use just as much electricity to bring the water back up to temperature than simply maintaining the temperature over a 7-10 day period. The same with heat/ac. I would adjust the settings but not drastically.
If you turn off the heater, then turn it on a week or a month later, the total energy consumed is less than the energy to keep that water hot while you are gone. Google "Water heater standby loss".
Most electric water heaters have low standby losses, I once figured out that leaving my water heater on while I was gone would cost me $2/week in the middle of winter, less in the summer.
I'd say don't mess with the breaker. You don't want to accidentally turn off your fridge and end up with a mess of rotted food and stinky house.
Just turn down the heater to the lowest possible (coldest) setting. Turn off the water at the main. I also flush a toilet which drains most of the water from the system. If there will be freezing temps, I keep the thermostat set to 50F (some people go higher) - Mine can be programmed with a countdown function so it goes back up on the day of my return.
No - the breaker circuit to the hot water heater.
I was told always shut off the hot water heater in the circuit breaker not just the water or you damage the heater elements.
I left on vacation once and turned the thermostat up to 85 degrees in the summer to save on AC. My cat was not happy about it and my caretaker quickly fixed it the first day and gave me a lecture about "melting the cat."
Just as a note, an electric water heater, by code, has a breaker in the main panel and also one near the heater itself.
YMMV.
My electric water heater was installed in the 1990s, in a house built in the 1980s, and there was no switch, breaker or disconnect near the heater itself.
I wouldn't bother for anything less than a month. However, I've noticed that my heater keeps water perfectly hot on the lowest setting.
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Code requirements vary by location, year
