Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time

	Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time

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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time

Alex

02-12-2007

Re: Turning off the water to a gas hot water heate...

trader4

02-12-2007

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Posted by Alex on February 12, 2007, 10:02 am

Hi everyone,

We have an older house we're fixing up and trying to sell, but being
we only visit the house on the weekends we're thinking of shutting off
the water at the street during the week. This house has a gas hot
water heater, so I wasn't sure if shutting off the water would cause
any problems with the water heater, which is about 3-4 years old.

The reason we want to turn the water off is because for one, the house
is old and I don't want a leak to pop-up when we're not there, and
secondly we're afraid some folks in the neighborhood might take water
from the outside faucet because I've seen them doing this to other
houses.

Thanks for any advice.

Alex

Posted by on February 12, 2007, 10:08 am

> Hi everyone,

> We have an older house we're fixing up and trying to sell, but being

> we only visit the house on the weekends we're thinking of shutting off

> the water at the street during the week. This house has a gas hot

> water heater, so I wasn't sure if shutting off the water would cause

> any problems with the water heater, which is about 3-4 years old.

> The reason we want to turn the water off is because for one, the house

> is old and I don't want a leak to pop-up when we're not there, and

> secondly we're afraid some folks in the neighborhood might take water

> from the outside faucet because I've seen them doing this to other

> houses.

> Thanks for any advice.

> Alex

You can turn the water off and it shouldn't cause any problems. It
is possible though that a cup or two of water could emerge from the
TPR valve, because when water is heated, it expands. With many
systems, the small amount of expansion is taken up by the municipal
water system, giving it a place to go. By closing off the valve, that
cup of water may emerge from the TPR valve, unless you have an
expansion tank in the system.

One obvious solution is to turn the water heater to the pilot setting,
which will also save you energy cost during the week it's off.

Posted by Pop` on February 12, 2007, 10:17 am

trader4@optonline.net wrote:

>> Hi everyone,

>> We have an older house we're fixing up and trying to sell, but being

>> we only visit the house on the weekends we're thinking of shutting

>> off the water at the street during the week. This house has a gas

>> hot water heater, so I wasn't sure if shutting off the water would

>> cause any problems with the water heater, which is about 3-4 years

>> old.

>> The reason we want to turn the water off is because for one, the

>> house is old and I don't want a leak to pop-up when we're not there,

>> and secondly we're afraid some folks in the neighborhood might take

>> water from the outside faucet because I've seen them doing this to

>> other houses.

>> Thanks for any advice.

>> Alex

> You can turn the water off and it shouldn't cause any problems. It

> is possible though that a cup or two of water could emerge from the

> TPR valve, because when water is heated, it expands. With many

> systems, the small amount of expansion is taken up by the municipal

> water system, giving it a place to go. By closing off the valve, that

> cup of water may emerge from the TPR valve, unless you have an

> expansion tank in the system.

> One obvious solution is to turn the water heater to the pilot setting,

> which will also save you energy cost during the week it's off.

But ... if a leak develops anywhere and enough water drains from the tank,
it'll ruin it pretty quickly. Best to turn it to pilot of OFF if electric
when it's not needed. Saves fuel, too.

Posted by Alex on February 12, 2007, 10:20 am

> trad...@optonline.net wrote:

> >> Hi everyone,

> >> We have an older house we're fixing up and trying to sell, but being

> >> we only visit the house on the weekends we're thinking of shutting

> >> off the water at the street during the week. This house has a gas

> >> hot water heater, so I wasn't sure if shutting off the water would

> >> cause any problems with the water heater, which is about 3-4 years

> >> old.

> >> The reason we want to turn the water off is because for one, the

> >> house is old and I don't want a leak to pop-up when we're not there,

> >> and secondly we're afraid some folks in the neighborhood might take

> >> water from the outside faucet because I've seen them doing this to

> >> other houses.

> >> Thanks for any advice.

> >> Alex

> > You can turn the water off and it shouldn't cause any problems. It

> > is possible though that a cup or two of water could emerge from the

> > TPR valve, because when water is heated, it expands. With many

> > systems, the small amount of expansion is taken up by the municipal

> > water system, giving it a place to go. By closing off the valve, that

> > cup of water may emerge from the TPR valve, unless you have an

> > expansion tank in the system.

> > One obvious solution is to turn the water heater to the pilot setting,

> > which will also save you energy cost during the week it's off.

> But ... if a leak develops anywhere and enough water drains from the tank,

> it'll ruin it pretty quickly. Best to turn it to pilot of OFF if electric

> when it's not needed. Saves fuel, too.

Thanks... I've never worked with a gas water heater, so I didn't know
there was such a setting as 'pilot'. I'll do that.. We mainly need
heated water when cleaning, but for most general tasks cool water is
okay.

Take care --

Alex

Posted by Toller on February 12, 2007, 10:25 am

>> trad...@optonline.net wrote:

>> >> Hi everyone,

>> >> We have an older house we're fixing up and trying to sell, but being

>> >> we only visit the house on the weekends we're thinking of shutting

>> >> off the water at the street during the week. This house has a gas

>> >> hot water heater, so I wasn't sure if shutting off the water would

>> >> cause any problems with the water heater, which is about 3-4 years

>> >> old.

>> >> The reason we want to turn the water off is because for one, the

>> >> house is old and I don't want a leak to pop-up when we're not there,

>> >> and secondly we're afraid some folks in the neighborhood might take

>> >> water from the outside faucet because I've seen them doing this to

>> >> other houses.

>> >> Thanks for any advice.

>> >> Alex

>> > You can turn the water off and it shouldn't cause any problems. It

>> > is possible though that a cup or two of water could emerge from the

>> > TPR valve, because when water is heated, it expands. With many

>> > systems, the small amount of expansion is taken up by the municipal

>> > water system, giving it a place to go. By closing off the valve, that

>> > cup of water may emerge from the TPR valve, unless you have an

>> > expansion tank in the system.

>> > One obvious solution is to turn the water heater to the pilot setting,

>> > which will also save you energy cost during the week it's off.

>> But ... if a leak develops anywhere and enough water drains from the

>> tank,

>> it'll ruin it pretty quickly. Best to turn it to pilot of OFF if

>> electric

>> when it's not needed. Saves fuel, too.

> Thanks... I've never worked with a gas water heater, so I didn't know

> there was such a setting as 'pilot'. I'll do that.. We mainly need

> heated water when cleaning, but for most general tasks cool water is

> okay.

On mine, there isn't. I turn it to "vacation" when I am away with the water
turned off. So far no problem.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 > last >>

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