Proper Way to Shut Off Water to House
 

We will be leaving for a vacation and would like to know the proper way to shut off the water to our home. We have a gas water heater and would also like to know what we should do with it while we are away.

Thank you.

put the water heater on vacation, by turning the knob from hi to low to vacation. or you can put it on pilot.

Depends on your house and where you live. If there is water shut off in the garage, turn it off. If you live in a courtyard villa, you should be able to find a round hole, normally with a green or purple cover, with the shut off valve there. After shutting off the water, put your irrigation system to run manually. If nothing comes on, turn your water back on, otherwise you won't have a lawn when you get back. If this is the case, you'll have to manually turn off the water to all faucets, the toilets and fridge ice maker.

Unless you're willing to hire a plumber to turn on your pilot light or you know how to do it yourself, I'd recommend just putting it to the low setting, but not off.

Be sure to put plastic wrap over the toilets and cover all drains. Easiest way to do this is to fill ziplock bags with ice and put on top of the drains. The ice will melt and create a perfect seal.

Here's what I do. Put gas water heater on pilot, shut off ice maker, shut off irrigation timer. Shut water off at valve outside of house. Turn outside faucet on to release pressure then shut faucet off. When I come back I turn water on at valve outside house, open outside faucet to ensure flow and pressure. Turn water heater normal setting from pilot, turn ice maker back on, turn irrigation timer on. Next I check pressure at back of house. Then I look for leaks under all cabinets, washer fittings, and toilets fittings. Why do I check for leaks? Once pressure off fitting and if the are old and deteriorated they may start to drip and later spring leak. This could happen any time if house 10 years old or older IMO.

leave the dishwasher door open.


leave the doors open under the sinks.

Why should we put plastic wrap over the toilets and cover the drains?

hmmm, my guess is that if a dog breaks into your home - he doesn't drink up all that water in the toilet bowl...
:D

This keeps the water in the u traps from evaporating. If that happens you will get a nasty smell in your house from the sewage system. Also, it will create an easy path for unwanted pests to enter your home from the sewage system such as cockroaches.

I think OP was leaving on a vacation, not leaving for 6 months.

This is what I assumed Big Red meant. I've left for months, not done this, with no issues............doesn't mean it couldn't.

Red.......why do you plastic openings????

To keep the bugs out and keep toilet water from evaporating. It's a non-issue if you have someone checking your house but if you're going to leave it empty for more than three weeks, tis a good idea. Also, leave closet doors slightly open.

Big Red??? Roflmao

Cockroaches swim underwater.They are a very versatile insect: Cockroach Facts: 10 Facinating Facts about Roaches

I would never call anyone a Witch. Well, maybe that 6th grade teacher.

Some may not like my method, but it works well for me.
Turn off the water and the gas and pilot light to the water heater. Turn off the house water in the garage? It may be a plastic 90 degree cheap valve mostly and is likely to freeze up, it is usually a very cheap plastic valve. Call a plumber, (Isherwood is good) and have him put in an ALL BRASS valve. By the way, if you do have the cheap plastic valve, that valve was designed for sprinkler systems on the west coast and most codes would not allow it in the house, only in flower beds and gardens, true story. If it binds up, and it can and ours did, you cannot tell if it is working because the stem turns but the inside plastic ball gets gummed up, ours did and even though you think it is off, you will find you have potable water at the sinks etc. There is a separate water system for the sprinklers, at least in the Villas and not sure if it is in all systems. Check with the office on this, they will check with construction. We always shut off the washer when leaving. In one house out of state, I had a timer on the water heater, it shut off everything every night.
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If you put a little bit of Chlorox in your drains and in your toilets you will not get critters coming from the sewer mains. And the odor will be minimized, just a small amount, when you go away. Have fun on your trip.


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Don't forget to remove the wrap after that looong car ride where you didn't stop for the last several hours.

Well 'm exhausted at the thought, you all convinced me to limit my trips to day trips:D