On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 23:38:45 GMT, mtco wrote:

Suppose you are going away for 10 days, what should you do to the water
shutoff valves and the water heater in the house? I've seen
recommendations that you set the house thermostat at 55 F and the water
heater to "vacation" -- if the setting is available.

But what about the water shutoff valves? Is it safe/wise to close the
main water shutoff valve? Will the water heater overheat because there
is no water pressure, even when it's set to "vacation"?

Here's a number of "trouble scenarios" I've thought of, but I may be
missing something:

1. Water heater leaks and dumps a large amount of water onto the drip
pan, overflowing the latter and causing damage to the floor.

2. House loses power and pipes get frozen (and cracked). Cracked pipes
floods the house when the power returns and the pipes unfrozen.

3. (Described above) Main water shutoff closed. Water heater overheats
because there is not water pressure.

Should I close the main water shutoff valve, as well as the shutoff
valves to the appliances, BUT open the faucets to allow freezing water
some room to expand, just in case the pipes got frozen?

Any thoughts?

Make sure you have replacement cost homeowners insurance.

Turn off the water heater.

Set the house to 55.

Have fun.