The pilot light on most water heaters can be found at the base of the unit just under the gas control valve. Open the access door or panel to the burner chamber and take a look inside. You should be able to see the pilot light tube. If there's a steady blue flame, your pilot light is operational.
If you have a gas-powered water heater, be sure to also check the pilot light. If the pilot light has gone out, the water heater will not be able to ignite the gas to heat water.
The water heater will still turn on and off to maintain the water temperature inside of the tank. Think about if you have ever gone away for a prolonged period of time. Normally there will be no water use for days or weeks and this causes no problems to the tank.
Generally, it's best to keep your water tank full and heated throughout the year. You can turn off your water heater when it is done safely, but only do this when you have a problem or if the tank won't be heated anytime soon. Turning off your water heater to save on energy bills is not usually recommended.
If the pilot light goes out, the gas will stop flowing and your unit will shut off. When heating is required, the gas control valve releases the gas into the main burner where the pilot light ignites the gas. Apart from lighting the main burner, the pilot light also provides warmth to the thermocouple.
In the average home, the water heater will run for about three hours each day. Total run time can range from one to two hours for new tankless water heaters to five or more hours for older tank style water heaters.
The short answer is yes, as long as you don't mind using cold water. Shutting off the input to your water heater will not affect your home's main water supply. You can still run appliances like your washing machine or dishwasher, flush your toilet, and use your shower, sink, or garden hose.
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.
Your water heater has a tank that contains water. As long as you don't use the water, it stays in the water heater (this depends on the type of water heater). If, for any reason, the water levels fall in the tank, then it's best to turn off the water heater.
A basic water heater will run three to five hours a day to keep its tank heated 24/7. That's going to cost you.
Cycling occurs when the demand load on the heater is less than the minimum firing rate of the water heater. In other words, if the BTUH required to bring the water temperature up to the set point is less than the minimum BTUH that the water heater can operate at, the heater will keep turning on and off.
At your water heater, locate the water supply valve that's near or on top of your unit. Rotate that valve handle to the OFF position.
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.
That's important because gas is always being supplied to the pilot to keep the flame lit. But if the pilot flame goes out, then the gas would still be released. After a while, the gas could collect in your home and become a health hazard.
Although this is an area of concern for many people, the reality is that boilers are built so that the gas supply to the pilot light is shut off if the flame goes out. Whilst the cause of pilot light failure needs to be investigated, extinguished pilot lights aren't going to cause a gas leak.
All furnaces made within the last 20 years or so are equipped with a fail safe electrical shut-off valve. This valve operates automatically and shuts off gas flow as soon as the standing pilot light goes out, preventing any risk of gas buildup.
The pilot light, however, is an actual old-fashioned flame inside your furnace. This flame is supplied by your gas line and should always be lit.
If your hot water heater fails, upwards of 500 gallons per hour of water could get pumped into your home while you are at work! That's 2 ½ times the amount of water in a standard hot tub! Think about all that water pumping into your home or basement while you are away.
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.
If your hot water heater doesn't have a vacation setting, simply manually adjust your temperature to resemble Vacation Mode by lowering the temperature to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or the lowest setting your thermostat allows. You may also choose to turn your hot water heater off completely.