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#1
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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time
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 |
#2
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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time
On Feb 12, 10:02 am, "Alex" 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. |
#3
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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time
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#4
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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time
On Feb 12, 9:17 am, "Pop`" wrote:
wrote: On Feb 12, 10:02 am, "Alex" 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 |
#5
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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time
"Alex" wrote in message oups.com... On Feb 12, 9:17 am, "Pop`" wrote: wrote: On Feb 12, 10:02 am, "Alex" 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. |
#7
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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time
Steve Barker wrote:
Since the inlet and outlet are at the top of the tank, and there would be no inlet for air, how would a leak "anywhere" drain the tank? "Pop`" wrote in message news:uy%zh.800$hp4.470@trnddc02... wrote: On Feb 12, 10:02 am, "Alex" 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. Any slowly dripping faucet, water softener during clean cycle, kids turn on an outdoor faucet, pipe freezes & breaks, etc etc etc etc etc etc.. It's not common, but there are a lot of possibilities. |
#8
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Turning off the water to a gas hot water heater for a week or so at a time
"Steve Barker" writes:
Since the inlet and outlet are at the top of the tank, and there would be no inlet for air, how would a leak "anywhere" drain the tank? The inlet is a dip tube that actually extends most of the way to the bottom of the tank, so a water leak in the cold-water side of the house plumbing plus an air leak higher up in the hot-water plumbing could siphon almost all the water out of the tank. And, of course, the tank itself (or its drain valve) could spring a leak. Dave |
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