During Freezing Weather If your home will be vacant for any length of time, leave the heat at least 55 degrees. Consider shutting the water off to your home and opening faucets to drain pipes. Flush toilets once to drain the tank.
Ideally, to protect from freeze damage, the water supply should be shut off and the pipes should be purged (drained) of water. If purging is not possible, at the very least, faucets should be left open. This will allow the water to expand as it freezes so it will be less likely to burst the pipes or damage faucets.
Shutting off the water will not keep the pipes from freezing. The water in the pipes could still freeze and burst the pipe.
Yes, turning off the water to your home during a winter absence is a good idea, especially if you live in an area prone to freezing temperatures. Here are some reasons and steps to consider:
Most direct answer: As soon as the low temps hit freezing. Anything above freezing will not hurt you. But the lows may go to 20 degrees and the highs to 34. That's low enough to burst some pipes, crack valves, etc.
Does shutting off the water affect the water heater? When you go on vacation, it's best to also turn off your water heater, as well as the main water supply. Turning off the source of the heat (gas, electric) while you're away will not damage your water heater.
In Which Seasons Should You Ensure That Your Water Supply Is Turned Off? Regardless of the season, you should ensure that your main water supply is turned off before leaving for vacation. However, in winter, you should be more vigilant. During this season, the water inside water pipes may freeze.
If you decide to turn your water heater off for vacation, it might be a good idea to test it beforehand. You could try turning it off and on over the course of a day to make sure it won't cause any problems. Otherwise, it's best to just leave it on for your time away.
Pipes: Turn off water supply to the house and drain pipes to protect them from freezing. You can empty pipes by running the water and flushing the toilets after the water has been turned off. After draining the pipes, it is a good idea to leave the faucets open to prevent pressure build up from any water that remains.
Your Pipes Could Freeze and Burst
The heat in your home helps your pipes stay warm. If you turn off your water heater, your interior temperature will drop, leaving the water in your pipes susceptible to freezing.
Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
Overall, it's best that you take heed and drip your faucets when temperatures dip below freezing. A simple trickle of hot and/or cold water—both from faucets inside and outside the home—can prevent you from having to deal with a much larger issue (and bill!) in the long run.
Drain Your Water Heater as a Precaution
There are a few situations where draining your water heater is a good precaution to ensure the unit can't freeze, such as if your power ever goes out during the winter when the outside temperature is below freezing.
Frozen pipes can cut off your home's water supply and cause damaging leaks. In many cases, the help of a plumber is needed to resolve the problem. To prevent further damage, it is generally recommended that you turn off your main water supply valve and your water heater until repairs have been made.
If you live in a climate with freezing temperatures, you'll want to cover your outdoor faucets in the winter rather than dripping them. Even with a vigorous drip, frigid temperatures can travel through your faucet and freeze the connecting pipes. Before using a cover, you'll need to properly winterize your faucet.
Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through them is above freezing.
DURING freezing weather:
If you plan to be away from home for several days, shutting off the water can reduce the chances of broken pipes. Set your home heat to at least 55 degrees. Shut off water to the house and open all faucets to drain pipes; flush the toilet once to drain the tank, but not the bowl.
When you shut off a faucet, the water still has some force, which has to be absorbed, causing the pipe will flex. If the pipe is near wood, it will bang against the wood. You can stop this plumbing noise problem by installing water hammer arrestors on the offending water lines.
Our professional answer after crunching the numbers? No, unless you're going on vacation for a month or longer, you shouldn't turn off your water heater.
Else, if you have a full water tank, and you need to turn off the water for an issue unrelated to your water heater, then it really doesn't matter if you turn the water heater on or off.
It is always advisable to turn off your water supply before leaving for a vacation. Shutting off the water is crucial for protecting your home from water damage through leaks or burst pipes. The last thing you want is to find the house flooded and with a foul smell when you return.
Shutting off the water supply when leaving for an extended period can prevent potential leaks or flooding while you're away.
Water should be turned off before the temperatures drop below freezing. This is especially true if you will not be home during the winter and the heat will be turned off as well. Water that is left in the pipes will lose any warmth it has and begin to expand as it freezes.
As a general rule, the “temperature alert threshold” for freezing pipes is about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
The main shut-off valve is usually found on the inside of your house where the water comes in for the water meter. Commonly this would be in the basement, garage or crawl space just inside the foundation wall closest to the street.