It's generally best to avoid turning your water heater off too regularly. Some homeowners try to save money by switching off their water heaters when they don't need them, but the savings are unlikely to be significant enough to justify the additional wear and tear on your machine.
WAPT spoke to four plumbing companies that all said that homeowners should turn off the water heater if the water is not running for more than 24 hours. Residents can go to the breaker box in the home and throw the breaker to the “off” position for the water heater.
Generally speaking, a gas water heater should not be turned off unless you are leaving the house for an extended period of time. Even then the better choice for gas water heaters is to just turn the temperature down. In fact, many water heaters have a “vacation” setting on the temperature control.
As a water heater heats up, the water expands Unless you have an expansion tank, a small amount of water must be allowed to backup into the water mains. If the main water valve is turned off, there is no place for the water to expand into. So, do not turn off the water and leave the water heater on.
For the physical tank and parts, a hot water heater turns on and off frequently during it's operation and won't suffer any damage from the switching, with the possible exception of the controls themselves.
Don't leave home without turning off the water
But disasters can and do happen – and when you're away you can't do anything about minimizing the damage. So, do yourself a favour. Remember to shut off the main water supply to your home any time you're planning to be away for more than 24 hours.
If your water heater is older, it's likely that its functionality has diminished over time. The age of a water heater is one of the most common reasons for it to constantly run. At this point, repairs are unlikely to correct the issue and it is best to replace the system.
Unplug Appliances and Electronics
Save money on your energy bill and avoid the risk of an electric fire while you're gone by unplugging any electronics not associated with home security, lighting or your refrigerator. There's no need to leave your printer or bedroom TV plugged in when no one's around to use it.
How Long Can You Turn Off Water to a Toilet? Like turning off your toilet's water for a night, it's safe to do so for a week. While you can keep your toilet water off for as long as you'd like, we wouldn't recommend it unless you have a problem with your toilet's plumbing system.
If there is an appliance or fixture in your home that is connected to your water main, then it will also have an isolation valve that allows you to shut off water directly to that fixture or area. Sinks, water heaters, toilets, etc.
To prevent damage to your home, it is advisable to turn off the main shut-off valve before going on a vacation. You can find the main valve in the basement, crawlspaces, concrete slab, or the attic. You might also find the main shut-off valve in a utility box near your front sidewalk.
It's safe to leave the water heater energized while showering or otherwise using hot water. The concern is probably electric shock. That's a nonissue; the electric elements are designed to not electrify the water.
Water heaters should be turned off for any absence of more than a few days, and should be turned off and drained for long absences. After draining the water heater, attach a sign stating that it should not be turned on again until refilled with water.
Hard water can cause sediment to build up in your water heater, leading to corrosion and shortened lifespan. We recommend installing a water softener or using a filtration system if you have hard water. This will not only extend the life of your water heater, but it will also improve the quality of your water overall.
The average gas heater takes between 30 and 40 minutes to fully heat up the water in its tank. The average electric heater takes about twice as long as the average gas heater to fully heat up the water in its tank, so you can expect it to take between an hour and an hour and 20 minutes to heat up.
"There is no downside to turning off the water. It takes a little bit of time, and it can save thousands of dollars in potential water damage." If you don't want to turn off the water to the whole house, at least close the hot- and cold-water valves on the washing machine hoses.
A metered softener won't regenerate when no water is being used. A timed water softener will regenerate when its pre-set time says to, and without water it can damage parts of the unit. So, if your softener is not metered and you're planning to be gone for a long period of time, unplug it.
How to flush a toilet when the water is shut off. Since the gravity-flush toilet does not run on any type of outside assistance, you can still use it if there is a water main break or the supply is off for a plumbing project. All you need is water in the tank to initiate a flush.
Turning the lights off when you leave your room is necessary to help save electricity and lower your utility bills. As a homeowner, turning the lights off when you're not using them can help save money by reducing your electricity bills, extend the life of your light bulbs, and buy bulbs less often.
A hot water heater's lifespan depends on many factors, including the type of water heater, the energy source, the type of water you have, and how well the unit is maintained. On average, most water heaters last between 8 and 12 years but some can last up to 20 years with regular maintenance.
After using the tank water heater for long (about ten years), the rod gets eaten away and no longer works effectively. The corrosive particles settle on the tank's interior lining, including its bottom, and destroy it. At that point, the tank may start leaking. Check out this post to learn how to deal with leaks.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Flush your water heater every six months or so. If you have harder water, or water that contains more minerals, you may want to flush it more often. If you leave town, change your water heater to its vacation setting.
A water hammer occurs when a water valve is suddenly shut off. All the water that was running then crashes into the valve, shaking your pipes, creating the knocking noise you hear. A visual showing how water hammer can create knocking pipes.