Water Heater Question

[New Englander]

I have a 40 gal electric water heater. If I am going to be away from the home for say two months should I shut it off, or just leave it alone? If shutting it off is the way to go, should I drain the tank?

[k2at333]

Don't shut it. Put the pilot light on pilot only so it does not heat the water. Don't drain the tank. When you get back you then only have to put the pilot light back where it was and voila, hot water.

[Wiotte]

I have a 40 gal electric water heater. If I am going to be away from the home for say two months should I shut it off, or just leave it alone? If shutting it off is the way to go, should I drain the tank?



Shut it off, do not drain it.


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[Chatbrat]

Shut it off and unplug all your electronics, turn of the water to your washing machine, dishwasher and ice maker (refrig)

[Nucky]

I have a 40 gal electric water heater. If I am going to be away from the home for say two months should I shut it off, or just leave it alone? If shutting it off is the way to go, should I drain the tank?

I wouldn't touch nuttin. Hire a house service to inspect your entire home while you're absent. It is worth the money. If the water heater is old and rusted around the base get it replaced before you have a situation. Don't drain it.

[retiredguy123]

I would just shut off the main water valve in the house. You can leave the water heater alone, or turn the temperature down. If you turn the temperature down, you may need to turn down both top and bottom heating coils because some electric heaters have two heating elements. I never drain the water heater because the drain valve may leak when you refill it. They tend to become clogged with calcium over time. Also, make sure the toilets have plenty of water in the bowl and close the lids to prevent them from drying out. You should be fine for two months. If you do hire a house service, I would still turn off the water and have the service person turn it on every two weeks or so. Also, I would not recommend turning off the washing machine, dishwasher, and toilet valves because these valves are only intended for occasional use, and can often leak If you mess with them too often.

[photo1902]

I have a 40 gal electric water heater. If I am going to be away from the home for say two months should I shut it off, or just leave it alone? If shutting it off is the way to go, should I drain the tank?

Flip the breaker for the water heater off. There is no need to drain it. In addition, turn off the water to your house.

[dewilson58]

Flip the breaker for the water heater off. There is no need to drain it. In addition, turn off the water to your house.

agree

[New Englander]

If I turn off the water to the house, will it effect the outside lawn sprinkler?

[billmcnall]

Turning off house supply does not effect sprinkler system.

[Toymeister]

An electric water heater left on in a vacant home cost 8.27 per month for no benefit.

I have a energy monitor so I can see exactly what the water heater costs, I also have the ability to remotely turn the heater on and off. I leave mine off.

Edit to add: I can tell you the fidelity on the monitor gets so accurate I know that a whirpool french door fridge costs 4.14/month in a vacant home

[jsw14]

Flip the breaker for the water heater off. There is no need to drain it. In addition, turn off the water to your house.

This is what I would do. Go & have fun on your trip with NO worry's. When U get back take a Cold shower. :wave:

[New Englander]

The main water shut-off is inside the garage. Where would I find the outside sprinkler shut off be so I just know where it is?

[Toymeister]

This is what I would do. Go & have fun on your trip with NO worry's. When U get back take a Cold shower. :wave:

Actually, probably not. If you had the ability to see how many minutes your heater runs to heat the water you would be surprised. In an occupied home it runs less than nine minutes on average. Starting from an ambient of your garage that heater will be pumping out not h2o in 15 minutes or less.

[DARFAP]

As a part-timer, I turn off the 2 CBs every time I go away. That was part of a checklist I received from The Villages sales when I closed. I also turn off the water.

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[jsw14]

Actually, probably not. If you had the ability to see how many minutes your heater runs to heat the water you would be surprised. In an occupied home it runs less than nine minutes on average. Starting from an ambient of your garage that heater will be pumping out not h2o in 15 minutes or less.

OK, ok, take a luke-warm shower then.......

[Pearson14505]

No pilot on electric

[coffeebean]

Actually, probably not. If you had the ability to see how many minutes your heater runs to heat the water you would be surprised. In an occupied home it runs less than nine minutes on average. Starting from an ambient of your garage that heater will be pumping out not h2o in 15 minutes or less.

Is that 9 minutes per hour?

[bonrich]

I always turn off the breaker and run the hot water out of the tank until I have cool non heated water running out. Recommended by builder so you will not have skunky water when you return and flip on the breaker. Your home watch can do that fot you prior to your return.

[DangeloInspections]

I hesitate to post this, because this subject seems to be a contentious issue, with many folks VERY adamant that what they do is the only right thing to do.

Personally, my advice seems to go against what many folks here subscribe to.

The original poster stated that they have a 40 gallon ELECTRIC hot water tank...so there is no pilot. He most likely has a Rheem tank with two elements.

I know people do it everyday...but personally, I do NOT like to have the water tank shut off for an extended time. This can in some instances, (and I have seen it) cause a biofilm growth.

Read this article----
Access Denied (https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/is-your-home-a-death-trap-your-water-may-be-perfect-for-bacterial-growth)

You can still click on the article, it will come up.

I think the best way to leave for an extended time is to leave the water tank on. Have someone check on the house once a week. They should turn on the main water valve, run faucets, flush toilets, etc. They could then when they leave turn off the main valve, then turn it back on when they return a week later.

Do you really want to leave 40 gallons stagnant in a tank installed in a hot garage for months, then come back to that water? If the water is not being used, as the home is vacant, how much really does it cost to keep that water only a few degrees hotter than the garage is anyway? The tank is insulated.

The other more contentious issue would be the temperature setting. The Villages sets the tank temperature at around 120 degrees, for fear of scalding. I personally feel more comfortable having the temperature a bit hotter to kill bacteria.....but that is just me.

I actually have a friend who leaves his home for months at a time. I go over there the day before to run all the stinky water out of his tank before he gets here...the whole house then smells from a rotten egg smell, most likely caused by the interaction of his stagnant water with the Anode in his tank.

Just some other rules of thumb here.....

Never drain your tank without turning off the double pole breaker for the tank. The elements are made to stay full immersed in water. If exposed to air and on, they will almost instantly burn out.

Turning off the main valve should not risk emptying your tank. The only way that could happen is if a faucet was turned on LOWER than your tank...(almost impossible here with no basements).

I know my opinion is in the minority here.....just my two cents and it did not cost anything....Enjoy!

Frank D.

[pauld315]

I think the best way to leave for an extended time is to leave the water tank on. Have someone check on the house once a week. They should turn on the main water valve, run faucets, flush toilets, etc. They could then when they leave turn off the main valve, then turn it back on when they return a week later.

Do you really want to leave 40 gallons stagnant in a tank installed in a hot garage for months, then come back to that water?


If someone is coming to your house weekly and running your hot and cold water even if the hot water tank is turned off at the breaker why would you have stagnant water in the tank ?

[Toymeister]

Is that 9 minutes per hour?

It is 8 minutes and 27 seconds when it is on. That is six or seven times a day. It depends on laundry and dishes. I do use a timer option so I expect it will be two more on cycles for most people, but with a lower average on time. All times quoted for August,in an occupied home. Point is heaters do not come on that often and for that long in 100 degree garages. But that said they do use a lot of energy when they are on.

[Packer Fan]

I have a 40 gal electric water heater. If I am going to be away from the home for say two months should I shut it off, or just leave it alone? If shutting it off is the way to go, should I drain the tank?

Turn off the main water to the house and turn off the circuit breaker to your electric water heater. Set you home air conditioner to 80 degrees. For 2 months you will be fine. If you really want to be safe, put stretch wrap over the toilets, but for 2 months that is not necessary.

If you really want to be safe hire a home watch, they will charge you 45 bucks a month and flush your toilets once a week.

[DangeloInspections]

If someone is coming to your house weekly and running your hot and cold water even if the hot water tank is turned off at the breaker why would you have stagnant water in the tank ?

Of course it would not be stagnant then....the point is that is there really very much difference in having the water heater on and at a safe temperature, as opposed to having it off? If it was off I would want to run it completely out when I returned anyway....and how do you know things were actually done as you wanted when you returned?

Whatever way one does it, I would always run the water completely through upon my return and raise the water temp, even just for a day or so to insure safe levels.....but how many folks know how to do this on an electric tank? Thus my suggestion.

[Toymeister]

I hesitate to post this, because this subject seems to be a contentious issue, with many folks VERY adamant that what they do is the only right thing to do.

I know people do it everyday...but personally, I do NOT like to have the water tank shut off for an extended time. This can in some instances, (and I have seen it) cause a biofilm growth.

Read this article----
Access Denied (https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/is-your-home-a-death-trap-your-water-may-be-perfect-for-bacterial-growth)

You can still click on the article, it will come up.

IThe other more contentious issue would be the temperature setting. The Villages sets the tank temperature at around 120 degrees, for fear of scalding. I personally feel more comfortable having the temperature a bit hotter to kill bacteria.....but that is just me.

II know my opinion is in the minority here.....just my two cents and it did not cost anything....Enjoy!

Frank D.

It doesn’t do anyone good to spread factoids on matters of public health if they cause panic by being incomplete. The linked article is inaccurate by omission. Legionella bacteria, if it exists in your water system (which is extremely unlikely) is killed by a hot water tank in 32 minutes. Source: Hot Water Heater Safety & Temperature: Legionella Prevention (http://www.cashacme.com/resources/hot-water-safety/). You will note your temp should be set at 140 degrees. That is always the case to avoid this bacteria, if you have left for vacation of not.

The topic of the post is should a hot water heater be turned off? Yes or no it is your choice, however it should not be left of for fear of legionella bacteria.
Simply turning on the heater and waiting an hour before use is fine for the purpose of killing bacteria, if it exists in your hot water heater.

[retiredguy123]

I'm confused about the discussion regarding killing bacteria in the water heater because heating the water does nothing to kill bacteria in the cold water system. The cold water part is the water that you drink.

[photo1902]

The main water shut-off is inside the garage. Where would I find the outside sprinkler shut off be so I just know where it is?

You have two options. If you live in an area of The Villages that has separate meters for potable and irrigation water, you can turn them off at the meter. Another option is the shutoff valve located in your irrigation control box(s).

[New Englander]

Thanks everyone for any and all information posted on this thread. I decided to turn the breaker off on the water heater and turn the house water off.

But, here's another question. There is no food in the refrigerator. Should I just leave it on,,, or unplug it and leave the refrigerator doors open???

[Chatbrat]

Please unplug everything you don't need a breaker in the "off" position will not protect appliance and devices from a lightning hit, washer dryer all TV's, refrig,disposal, etc

[photo1902]

Thanks everyone for any and all information posted on this thread. I decided to turn the breaker off on the water heater and turn the house water off.

But, here's another question. There is no food in the refrigerator. Should I just leave it on,,, or unplug it and leave the refrigerator doors open???

You're only going to be gone for two months. I would just leave it on.

[photo1902]

Please unplug everything you don't need a breaker in the "off" position will not protect appliance and devices from a lightning hit, washer dryer all TV's, refrig,disposal, etc

Huh? How is being gone any different than being home? Do you unplug all of the appliances you mentioned every day?

[biker1]

It is impractical to unplug/replug daily when you are living there and you implicitly accept the risk of lightning related damage to appliances. When you are gone for an extended period of time, it makes more sense to unplug appliances since there is no inconvenience involved. You basically drive the probability of lightning related damage from a small number to zero with little effort, so why not do it. If I am gone for a week or more I unplug a lot of stuff (and turn off the hot water heater).

Huh? How is being gone any different than being home? Do you unplug all of the appliances you mentioned every day?

[photo1902]

It is impractical to unplug/replug daily when you are living there and you implicitly accept the risk of lightning related damage to appliances. When you are gone for an extended period of time, it makes more sense to unplug appliances since there is no inconvenience involved. You basically drive the probability of lightning related damage from a small number to zero with little effort, so why not do it. If I am gone for a week or more I unplug a lot of stuff (and turn off the hot water heater).

To each their own I guess. I'm venturing to say most village residents aren't go to go to the trouble. I know I'm not.

[Wiotte]

I think this thread has outlived it's usefulness. Something this simple should allow a little common sense to prevail.

[Toymeister]

Here's another question. There is no food in the refrigerator. Should I just leave it on,,, or unplug it and leave the refrigerator doors open???[/I]

Fridge on or off, the decision is best made when you have some facts. A French door fridge runs 1.2 to 1.5 Kwh/day in a vacant home cooled to 82 to 84 degrees. The math is $3.97 to $4.96 per month at SECO's rates for the first 1000 kwh (which you will be in a vacant home).

It cost slightly more to operate when you are there (as you open it). They run nearly 50% of the time and a modern fridge consumes about 120 watts while operating.

[biker1]

Trouble? Not really. In just a few minutes I can unplug all the TVs, router, printer, data streaming boxes, computers, phones, etc. As I stated, I only do this when I am going to be gone for more than a week. If a few minutes of time potentially saves me the inconvenience of replacing appliances then I will do it.

To each their own I guess. I'm venturing to say most village residents aren't go to go to the trouble. I know I'm not.