Every time we leave the house for a few weeks, I have visions of coming back
to a house that has been flooded from either a burst water heater or two (in
the attic) or burst pipes from a freeze.

As a precaution,I have considered turning off the water at the outside
shut-off and draining the pipes inside by opening the faucets.

What disasters lurk in this procedure? Can I just return home, turn on the
water and sputter the air out of the pipes, or is there some fundamental
embuggerance that I am overlooking? Will this require re-lighting the gas
in the water heater?

Bubba wrote:
Every time we leave the house for a few weeks, I have visions of
coming back to a house that has been flooded from either a burst
water heater or two (in the attic) or burst pipes from a freeze.

As a precaution,I have considered turning off the water at the outside
shut-off and draining the pipes inside by opening the faucets.

What disasters lurk in this procedure? Can I just return home, turn
on the water and sputter the air out of the pipes, or is there some
fundamental embuggerance that I am overlooking? Will this require
re-lighting the gas in the water heater?

You can turn the water heater down to pilot.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"Bubba" wrote in message
...
Every time we leave the house for a few weeks, I have visions of coming
back
to a house that has been flooded from either a burst water heater or two
(in
the attic) or burst pipes from a freeze.

As a precaution,I have considered turning off the water at the outside
shut-off and draining the pipes inside by opening the faucets.

What disasters lurk in this procedure? Can I just return home, turn on
the
water and sputter the air out of the pipes, or is there some fundamental
embuggerance that I am overlooking? Will this require re-lighting the gas
in the water heater?


Turn off the water at your main shut off. Open a faucet, the lowest in the
system is preferable, to relieve the pressure and drain off some water.
Turn off your hot water heater by shutting of the gas. Yes, there is some
sputtering in the water line when you first open the main valve and open
some faucets but no big deal. It takes nothing to relight the hot water
pilot. This is the safest way to leave your house for any extended period
of time. I do it even for over nights. Cold weather (below freezing temps)
protection requires a bit more things to do.
MLD

Bubba wrote:
Every time we leave the house for a few weeks, I have visions of
coming back to a house that has been flooded from either a burst
water heater or two (in the attic) or burst pipes from a freeze.

As a precaution,I have considered turning off the water at the outside
shut-off and draining the pipes inside by opening the faucets.

What disasters lurk in this procedure? Can I just return home, turn
on the water and sputter the air out of the pipes, or is there some
fundamental embuggerance that I am overlooking? Will this require
re-lighting the gas in the water heater?

One additional thing. Remember that toilets and drains hold water, if
the temp really drops they will freeze and may be damaged. Also any liquids
in the frig or out like pop, can also freeze and damage things.

Just how far you want to go depends on how paranoid you are. If the
worse happens, I am sure you will be happy you were what I might call
paranoid. My insurance company might call it prudent. :-)

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Greetings,

a) Do everything everyone else said. You will also need to put RV
anti-freeze in the toilet / sink traps if you are worried about them.
b) If you want the 80/20 solution just turn off the water valve and reduce
the water heater to pilot.

Hope this helps,
William



"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Bubba wrote:
Every time we leave the house for a few weeks, I have visions of
coming back to a house that has been flooded from either a burst
water heater or two (in the attic) or burst pipes from a freeze.

As a precaution,I have considered turning off the water at the outside
shut-off and draining the pipes inside by opening the faucets.

What disasters lurk in this procedure? Can I just return home, turn
on the water and sputter the air out of the pipes, or is there some
fundamental embuggerance that I am overlooking? Will this require
re-lighting the gas in the water heater?

One additional thing. Remember that toilets and drains hold water, if
the temp really drops they will freeze and may be damaged. Also any
liquids
in the frig or out like pop, can also freeze and damage things.

Just how far you want to go depends on how paranoid you are. If the
worse happens, I am sure you will be happy you were what I might call
paranoid. My insurance company might call it prudent. :-)

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

William Deans wrote:
Greetings,

a) Do everything everyone else said. You will also need to put RV
anti-freeze in the toilet / sink traps if you are worried about them.
b) If you want the 80/20 solution just turn off the water valve and
reduce the water heater to pilot.

Hope this helps,
William


And don't forget food. Things like caned food can freeze as well. A few
frozen can's of pop can make a real mess.



"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Bubba wrote:
Every time we leave the house for a few weeks, I have visions of
coming back to a house that has been flooded from either a burst
water heater or two (in the attic) or burst pipes from a freeze.

As a precaution,I have considered turning off the water at the
outside shut-off and draining the pipes inside by opening the
faucets.

What disasters lurk in this procedure? Can I just return home, turn
on the water and sputter the air out of the pipes, or is there some
fundamental embuggerance that I am overlooking? Will this require
re-lighting the gas in the water heater?

One additional thing. Remember that toilets and drains hold
water, if the temp really drops they will freeze and may be damaged.
Also any liquids in the frig or out like pop, can also freeze and
damage things.

Just how far you want to go depends on how paranoid you are. If
the worse happens, I am sure you will be happy you were what I might
call paranoid. My insurance company might call it prudent. :-)

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"William Deans" wrote in message
news:1103696951.fbebe3d9dc59cb8337d5c8a2eb38b2f4@t eranews...
Greetings,

a) Do everything everyone else said. You will also need to put RV
anti-freeze in the toilet / sink traps if you are worried about them.

Is this safe to do if you have a well and a septic tank??