question about leaving your house

[Hifred]

We are leaving our house for 30 days. We have an electric hot water heater. When I shut off the water in the garage do I also have to shut off the electric that goes to the hot water heater from the circuit breaker? Not sure if there is a possibility that if the hot water heater tries to pull water if it could burn it out?

[Rango]

Turn it off

[dewilson58]

Shut off the water & shut off the water heater at the circuit breaker.

[MrFlorida]

As said above, shut off water and breaker.

[JMintzer]

As said above, shut off water and breaker.

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[tophcfa]

The more logical question would be why would anyone leave the breaker to the hot water heater on if they won’t be using the home for several days or longer?

[photo1902]

They cost roughly $1.50-$3 a day to run. When we leave for more than three days we turn it off. If less than that, it's a non-issue, cost wise.

[rjm1cc]

I leave my gas hot water heater on the lowest setting and water off when we leave. Reason is might have a problem relighting. Have in the past. I would turn off the electric hot water heater but I do not think you will have a problem if it is on.

[mulligan]

I leave my gas hot water heater on the lowest setting and water off when we leave. Reason is might have a problem relighting. Have in the past. I would turn off the electric hot water heater but I do not think you will have a problem if it is on.

Unless you develop a leak, then you will burn out the heater, and possibly have a fire.

[coffeebean]

We were Villages seasonal residents for just over 5 years and our home was vacant for nine months of the year. We never turned off the hot water heater because we did not want to deal with lighting the pilot light when we got back to Florida. We would put the hot water heater in the "vacation" mode. If you don't have a vac mode, just turn it to the lowest setting. That way, you will not need to light the pilot light when you return. We always turned off the water at the main in the garage.

Also.....very importantly. If you happen to have one of those hot water re-circulation pumps, turn off the re-circulation pump when you turn off the main water. That pump uses the water to lubricate the insides. Without water circulation through the pump, the motor will burn out. Ask me how I know this. LOL.

[Hifred]

Thank you . I appreciate everyone who responded.

[retiredguy123]

The more logical question would be why would anyone leave the breaker to the hot water heater on if they won’t be using the home for several days or longer?
A lot of people don't know where the breaker is or how to turn it off. Some don't even know where the water heater or the water shut off valve are located. They will leave the house for several months and not do anything.

[thevillages2013]

We were Villages seasonal residents for just over 5 years and our home was vacant for nine months of the year. We never turned off the hot water heater because we did not want to deal with lighting the pilot light when we got back to Florida. We would put the hot water heater in the "vacation" mode. If you don't have a vac mode, just turn it to the lowest setting. That way, you will not need to light the pilot light when you return. We always turned off the water at the main in the garage.

Also.....very importantly. If you happen to have one of those hot water re-circulation pumps, turn off the re-circulation pump when you turn off the main water. That pump uses the water to lubricate the insides. Without water circulation through the pump, the motor will burn out. Ask me how I know this. LOL.

Turning off the water heater applies to ELECTRIC not gas WH.

[thevillages2013]

Pause your mail and your fish wrap and make sure your irrigation is operating properly

[davem4616]

we had a seasonal home in Ft Lauderdale for 20 years

always turn off the water and the water heater

we'd set the A/C up to 80 degrees...to keep the humidity low

we'd pour bleach into the toilet bowls and close the drain in the tubs and sinks

and we'd have a neighbor check on the house

good luck...nothing worse than worrying about the other house while you're away