Tater heater- turn off? or leave pilot o
rwjiudice
| Posted in General Discussion on
I’m leaving the house for 6 days. I plan to turn off the main water.
I have a gas water heater with a standing pilot light. Must or should I turn off the pilot light? Or can I safely leave the pilot light lit? The tank will start out full.
It will / could be a pain to get out the flashlite and my cheayer glasses to relight the pilot at midnite when I get home.
But I would like your advice!
Thanks, Dick
Replies
leave pilot on but turn heater down to 'vacation' setting..or
haha.. leave the pilot on but turn the gas off
Yeah, turn the heater to the "vacation" or "pilot" setting, leaving the pilot on.
If there is a floor above the heater, open a tap slightly in the highest floor after shutting off the water. This will prevent any pressure/vacuum buildup that could cause damage. (However, it's a little risky to do this if heater and tap are on the same floor as one can end up siphoning most of the water out of the heater in some cases.)
Turn the gas valve from ON to PILOT and it won't try to heat the water.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
If I were leaving my house for only six days, I don't know why I'd turn off my water, unless there were a good pipe freeze potential, which you should have already mitigated by other means. I think I'd close the valves on the washing machine and toilets, for sure, and maybe to the outside sill cocks, if I thought someone might turn them on while I was gone. As to the water heater, if I didn't need hot water right away after coming home (especially at midnight), I'd just turn off the pilot. What's the big deal with starting it again? I'm one of these conservative guys who'll spend a little more to avoid a big problem, like a flooded or burned house. I'm probably over insured, as well. Worked so far. I think you have an overly considered concern.