[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by john352

My home was also built 21 years ago. Three years ago, I had a minor flood in my home due to a leak in a plastic pipe located underneath the concrete floor in my master bathroom. I had to use the main shutoff valve located in my garage; that valve was plastic and very difficult to turn. When the leak detection/plumber was replacing the faulty pipe, I had him replace the main shutoff valve with a brass valve that is easy to operate. Replacing the one main valve is more cost-effective than replacing 14 local plastic valves.

Before I leave my home to go on vacation, I shut off the water supply to my entire home and turn off the water heater. If I need to repair a toilet or a faucet, I use the easy-to-turn main valve in the garage rather than the questionable plastic valve located near the toilet or faucet. I tried to include a photo of the new main valve in the off position with this write-up.



IMG_3646.jpg - Google Drive

Your photo appears to show the valve in the "Off" position. Easy to tell because the "On" position (same as gas meters) is in-line with the piping as opposed to perpendicular to it.
As for your turning off the water heater, do you drain it also, or just flip the switch, assuming there's no pilot light? So the water sits in there the entire time you're away until you turn back on the water valve and then the water heater, do I understand correctly? Thanks.