What Do I Do With My Water Heater While on Vacation?

By Robert Palmer

If you’re planning to go on vacation, you might be wondering what to do with your water heater. After all, you wouldn’t want to waste energy or money while you’re away. Here are some tips on how to deal with your water heater before leaving for a vacation.

Turn off the power supply

The first thing you should do is turn off the power supply to your water heater. Most modern water heaters have a switch or a circuit breaker that you can use to turn off the power. If you have a gas water heater, turn off the gas supply valve as well.

Why turn off the power supply?

Turning off the power supply will prevent your water heater from heating and maintaining the temperature of the water in the tank. This means that it won’t be using energy unnecessarily while you’re away.

Adjust the thermostat

If you don’t want to turn off your water heater completely, another option is to adjust the thermostat. Most water heaters have a dial or digital display that allows you to set the temperature of the water in the tank.

What temperature should I set?

You can set your thermostat to its lowest setting (usually around 50°F), which will still prevent freezing in most cases. However, if your home is located in an area with extremely cold temperatures, it’s best to keep it at around 55-60°F.

Drain your tank

Another option is draining your tank completely before leaving for vacation. This is especially useful if you’ll be away for an extended period of time.

How do I drain my tank?

To drain your tank, turn off its power supply and attach a hose to its drain valve. Open up all hot water taps and let them run until there’s no more water coming out.

Then, open the drain valve and let all the water in the tank flow out. Make sure to turn off the drain valve once you’re done.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several things you can do with your water heater while you’re on vacation. You can turn off its power supply, adjust its thermostat, or drain it completely. Whatever option you choose, it’s important to take steps to prevent energy waste and save money while you’re away.