If your hot water heater is indoors, you may want to turn it off while you are away. Even if your hot water heater isn't aged, if it were to leak or rupture while you were away, it could cause flooding in your home. Unchecked for a period of time could cause costly repairs.
No, unless you're going on vacation for a month or longer, you shouldn't turn off your water heater. Here's why: You won't see significant energy savings. You'll create more problems by turning your water heater off/on repeatedly.
While many water heaters will be fine for a while without a water supply, reduced water pressure or a low water level inside the tank could cause the heater's components to overheat and burn. This could cause significant, expensive damage to your water heater.
STEP 1 : Turn off the gas isolation valve beside the heater. STEP 2 : Turn off the water isolating valve beside the water heater. Usually this will be on the left side as you look at the heater towards the bottom of the heater. Turn the tap clockwise to shut off.
Just like turning off the lights can save money, you can save energy by turning off your water heater at night when it's not being used.
Locate the plumbing line, usually near or at the top of the water heater. Turn the valve off, and you will have successfully turned off the water supply.
DON'T set your water heater temperature above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. DON'T keep combustible material within 18 inches of the hot water heater. DON'T leave children unattended around a hot water heater. DON'T allow plaque and sediment to build up in your tank.
For electric water heaters, turn off the power to the machine in your breaker box. When you return, simply restore the connections and relight the pilot light if you have a gas water heater. If you choose this option, be mindful of the time of year you're traveling.
If you're going on an extended vacation over the winter, or the power goes out, you'll want to drain your hot water heater, just to make sure it doesn't freeze, and ruin your tank. In order to drain it, turn off the gas and electric supplies, and shut off the cold water supply.
It's safe to leave your RV water heater on all the time, just like at home. You'll want to make sure that there is always water in the heater.
Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every six months or so, but if you have extremely hard water, you may want to do it more often.
Residential HVAC contractors do not recommend turning your heat off while your on vacation because this may cause your pipes to freeze. As the water expands inside your pipe, it can cause the pipes to burst, leading to extensive flooding. Keep the heat on, and you're far less likely to come home to a flooded home.
For Gas Water Heaters: Turn the knob on top of the thermostat clockwise to the off position. The thermostat is located near the bottom of the water heater. For Electric Water Heaters: Go to your circuit breaker panel, find the breaker for your water heater, and switch it to the off position.
This button is located above the heating element in contact with the tank surface, and it's usually red. Most of the time it's located underneath a removable panel, but sometimes it's visible on the outside of the water heater.
WAPT spoke to four plumbing companies that all said that homeowners should turn off the water heater if the water is not running for more than 24 hours.
In general, the water heater needs “breathing room,” so that there is plenty of ventilation available for the pilot assembly to burn properly. If the air flow is cut off by debris and clutter stacked around the water heater, this could cause the heater to not work properly and that could become a fire hazard.
If the gas water heater draws corrosive air into the burner, then the fumes created will also be corrosive, and corrode the water heater. This can lead to premature tank failure. Having corrosives and the water heater in a small, closed space concentrates the fumes and makes them worse.
In the average home, the water heater will run for about three hours each day. Total run time can range from one to two hours for new tankless water heaters to five or more hours for older tank style water heaters.
Advantages of the 'Auto' Setting
The fact is, when don't leave your furnace running all the time, you waste far less energy and save considerable money as a result. Your air filters will also last longer, offering another form of savings.
So, depending on the layout of your house and the type of heating system you have, leaving your heat on all day can significantly increase your energy bills. Turning off your heater, even just for a few hours a day, can help you save between 5%-15% on energy costs over the year.
According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money.
Over time, sediment can build up in the bottom of the tank and cause the unit to overheat. This can shorten the lifespan of the unit and lead to expensive repairs. To avoid this, it's important to flush the tank regularly. Most manufacturers recommend flushing the tank once a year.
Flush your water heater every six months or so. If you have harder water, or water that contains more minerals, you may want to flush it more often. If you leave town, change your water heater to its vacation setting. The pilot light will stay on, but the water will not be heated.
It is recommended that you flush your water heater at least once per year. Doing so will help to prevent the potential problems that sediment can bring over time.