[mulligan]

There are a few problems with that. The water should be run weekly to avoid dried out traps in bathroom fixtures and all appliances that use water. That would indicate that homewatch IS the answer. dish washers and clothes washers should be short cycled (water in, water out) to keep seals from drying out and to keep lubricants spread evenly in the machinery. If you let the water in your water heater stagnate, you may find yourself with some really smelly water when you return. You should also keep your A/C running set at perhaps 80 degrees to keep the air dry to prevent mold. The alternative to this would be to install a humidistat to operate the A/C based on humidity rather than temperature. One more note on periodic running of the water in ALL fixtures: We are sometimes subjected to fairly severe wind from local storms. This wind can actually siphon the water from the drain traps. If traps stay dry, you will find your home full of sewer gas which is poisonous. There are a few more issues that any competent homewatch can explain to you.