Upon returning after 6 mo. the only major problem was the water heater
pilot was out. I left it in the pilot position when we left. My neighbor
pointed out it has a vacation position. Is it better to use vacation
position, leave it in pilot position or turn it completely off?

Learned our lesson with the water softener last year, left it on vacation,
it lost it's setting with a power failure and reverted to the default
cycling three times a week on power up. Unplugged it this time and
reprogrammed it on return.

If I could just get the wife to go with plastic plants we could turn the
water off and not have the neighbor watering them.

Wish I could talk he into cleaning out and shutting off the fridge also.

There was a temperature sensor out there that calls a phone when the temp.
goes down. Anyone use one of these?

In article ,
"Questor" wrote:

Upon returning after 6 mo. the only major problem was the water heater
pilot was out. I left it in the pilot position when we left. My neighbor
pointed out it has a vacation position. Is it better to use vacation
position, leave it in pilot position or turn it completely off?

Learned our lesson with the water softener last year, left it on vacation,
it lost it's setting with a power failure and reverted to the default
cycling three times a week on power up. Unplugged it this time and
reprogrammed it on return.

If I could just get the wife to go with plastic plants we could turn the
water off and not have the neighbor watering them.

Wish I could talk he into cleaning out and shutting off the fridge also.

There was a temperature sensor out there that calls a phone when the temp.
goes down. Anyone use one of these?

You're kidding, right? Six months is not a "vacation." And a pilot light
out is not a "major problem." I think the two of you should move back in
with her parents.

On May 23, 12:38�pm, "Questor" wrote:
Upon returning after 6 mo. the only major problem was �the water heater
pilot was out. �I left it in the pilot position when we left. �My neighbor
pointed out it has a vacation position. Is it better to use vacation
position, leave it in pilot position or turn it completely off?

Learned our lesson with the water softener last year, left it on vacation,
it lost it's setting with a power failure and reverted to the default
cycling three times a week on power up. �Unplugged it this time and
reprogrammed it on return.

If I could just get the wife to go with plastic plants we could turn the
water off and not have the neighbor watering them.

Wish I could talk he into cleaning out and shutting off the fridge also.

There was a temperature sensor out there that calls a phone when the temp..
goes down. �Anyone use one of these?

The pilot flame impinges on a thermocouple which keeps open an
electric valve. After prolonged use, the thermocouple burns out & the
valve closes. Or, the pilot light is blown out by wind etc & the valve
also closes.


The purpose of the pilot light is to ignite the main gas burner as
required.
The purpose of the thermocouple is to shut the gas valve if the pilot
light goes out for any reason.
This ensures the house does not fill up with gas & become an explosion
hazard.
The thermocouple is a small rod that is in the pilot light, often
glows red hot.

If you cannot relight the pilot light, the thermocouple has burned out
&will need replacing.
If you can relight the pilot light, the thermocouple has done it's job
&cut off the gas after the pilot light has gone out.

Except in the case of very cold weather & frost damage potential,
it''s best to isolate all services if away on vacation.
Water, gas, electricity.

Questor wrote:
Upon returning after 6 mo. the only major problem was the water heater
pilot was out. I left it in the pilot position when we left. My
neighbor pointed out it has a vacation position. Is it better to use
vacation position, leave it in pilot position or turn it completely off?

You didn't know your pilot was out until you got back?

When I go on vacation, I shut off the pilot and disconnect the gas. I
have to wait for the water to heat up when I stop for a shower, but I
think it's safer to disconnect the gas before putting the water heater
in the car.

On May 23, 11:15*am, J Burns wrote:

snip

I
think it's safer to disconnect the gas before putting the water heater
in the car.

You do the same with the gas clothes dryer. right? How about the water
line on the ice cube maker in the fridge?

Joe

On May 23, 6:38*am, "Questor" wrote:
Upon returning after 6 mo. the only major problem was *the water heater
pilot was out. *I left it in the pilot position when we left. *My neighbor
pointed out it has a vacation position. Is it better to use vacation
position, leave it in pilot position or turn it completely off?

Learned our lesson with the water softener last year, left it on vacation,
it lost it's setting with a power failure and reverted to the default
cycling three times a week on power up. *Unplugged it this time and
reprogrammed it on return.

If I could just get the wife to go with plastic plants we could turn the
water off and not have the neighbor watering them.

Wish I could talk he into cleaning out and shutting off the fridge also.

There was a temperature sensor out there that calls a phone when the temp..
goes down. *Anyone use one of these?

For 6 months as long as you dont mind lighting it turn it off, its no
big deal either way but if it was me id just shut the gas off at the
main, then there wont be any leaks or gas problems anywhere, like
stove, heating system, dryer, water heater, etc. If its an earthquake
area I would do the gas main even for a week end, but im not in a
quake area. Was the water main shut off, thats even more important, I
know of people that have come back to flooded homes

"Missionaries teach the natives to use the vacation position".
(I know... not funny, Chris....)

The vacation position will use more gas. I don't see any real
advantage. Having a neighbor check the house every couple days is
excellent idea. If there aren't a lot of flowers, maybe the neighbor
could bring a jug of water from home as needed. Then you could shut
off the water. Much safer having the water off. Less likely to have a
pipe burst, and flood the place.

This from experience: One friend of mine, caretaker for a relative's
house which had the power off, during the bitter cold winter. We
drained the pipes, and put antifreeze in the traps. He shut off the
valve to the toilet, and the pipe from the valve to the toilet still
had water. Froze, burst. Not a big deal, but reminds us to leave the
toilet valve open when draining pipes.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Questor" wrote in message
...
Upon returning after 6 mo. the only major problem was the water
heater
pilot was out. I left it in the pilot position when we left. My
neighbor
pointed out it has a vacation position. Is it better to use vacation
position, leave it in pilot position or turn it completely off?

Learned our lesson with the water softener last year, left it on
vacation,
it lost it's setting with a power failure and reverted to the default
cycling three times a week on power up. Unplugged it this time and
reprogrammed it on return.

If I could just get the wife to go with plastic plants we could turn
the
water off and not have the neighbor watering them.

Wish I could talk he into cleaning out and shutting off the fridge
also.

There was a temperature sensor out there that calls a phone when the
temp.
goes down. Anyone use one of these?

It's nice to have a neighbor check on your house. If you go away for a
week, you can ask the neighbor to check inside the house at mid-week
to make sure everything's ok.

So, instead of leaving the gas line connected to the WH, you
disconnect it. Leave it open, so that if the valve has a problem, it
will release natural gas into your house? Not smart.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"J Burns"
wrote in message ...

When I go on vacation, I shut off the pilot and disconnect the gas. I
have to wait for the water to heat up when I stop for a shower, but I
think it's safer to disconnect the gas before putting the water heater
in the car.