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.

Watch out for your set-back thermostats. Those zones will freeze first.

Where will the water from a broken pipe flow. I had a lot of trouble
with my water heater. I have a slab house and the leaking water heater
just flowed water into the garage and out to the driveway.

But sometimes sh*t happens. You can't protect against everything.