If you’re planning to go on vacation and you have a tankless water heater, you may be wondering if it’s necessary to turn it off. The answer depends on a few factors.
What is a Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater is a type of water heater that heats water on demand rather than storing hot water in a tank. This means that it uses less energy than traditional water heaters because it only heats the amount of water that is needed at any given time.
Should You Turn Off Your Tankless Water Heater When on Vacation?
Whether or not you should turn off your tankless water heater when going on vacation depends on how long you’ll be gone and the climate where you live. If you’ll only be gone for a few days and the weather is mild, it’s probably best to leave your water heater on. This will ensure that there’s hot water available when you return home.
However, if you’ll be gone for an extended period of time or the weather is extremely cold, it may be best to turn off your tankless water heater. This will help save energy and prevent any potential issues with freezing pipes.
Steps to Turn Off Your Tankless Water Heater
If you do decide to turn off your tankless water heater before leaving for vacation, here are the steps to follow:
- Locate the power source for your tankless water heater.
- Turn off the power switch or circuit breaker that controls the unit.
- If your unit has a gas valve, turn it off as well.
- If your unit has an isolation valve, close it to prevent any residual flow of hot or cold feedwater into the heat exchanger.
When You Return Home
When you return home from vacation, simply turn the power and gas back on (if applicable) and your tankless water heater will resume heating water on demand.
The Bottom Line
Whether or not to turn off your tankless water heater when going on vacation depends on the length of your trip and the climate where you live. If you’ll only be gone for a short time and the weather is mild, it’s best to leave it on.
However, if you’ll be gone for an extended period of time or the weather is very cold, turning it off can help save energy and prevent issues with freezing pipes. Just be sure to follow the proper steps for turning it off and back on again when you return home.