Gas Hot Water Heater Shutoff or Low
 

Ok the bad news is we are heading north until late this summer. Should I shut down the gas hot water heater completely or should I just put it on the lowest setting. There is no vacation mode on it.

Back up North, we had a gas hot water heater, with a PILOT LIGHT, and because of this we would turn it off completely just on the outside chance the pilot light failed. We also had a gas fired hot water heating system, and i made the really big mistake of turning it off completely one summer, 2 of the main gaskets decided to leak when the boiler cooled off completely. This was an old boiler, and apparently did not have any expansion joints.
IMHO, call the gas company and ask the experts.

Village Thinker thank you for the advice, I will call Mike Scott who installed this last month.

I suggest leaving it on the lowest setting. This will prevent condensation and prolong the life of the burner. FYI it's a water heater not a hot water heater. Why would you want to heat hot water?


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I leave mine on "vacation". My older heater I left on "low". I leave my house up north for 7 months. 6 years and no problems.
You could do a google search.

Ha ha you made get a good laugh! You’re right who wants to heat a hot water heater!! :1rotfl:

Ok thanks for the advice.

Rango thanks too for your experience.

If you don't have a manual, you should download one from the Internet. The manual will explain exactly what to do. On older gas water heaters, I would turn the dial to pilot, which would leave the pilot on, and, in the event that it went out, the gas valve would automatically shut off. The newer water heaters may have a electronic ignition system with no pilot. But, you definitely need to read the operating manual for your water heater. You don't need a plumber for this.

I do have a manual I’ll check it out. I’m thinking a call to Mike Scott anyway since I just had them install it, it’s not even 2 months old.

Not according to the manufacturer, see page 21. Shut it off.
Rheem Water Heater Manuals | Water Heater Hub

thanks for all the input but there seems to be different schools of thought and I think my best bet is to make that phone call to Mike Scott.

I am sure, who do you think knows best a plumber or the manufacturer? Since the manufacturer is the one with the warranty I would follow their 'school of thought'. Under "Care and Maintenance" " Extended Shut-Down" page 21 "the appliance ...should be shut down to avoid the build up of hydrogen gas"

Thank you.