[ricksingh]

Going on vacation. Trying to figure out best cautious steps to take.

Are below steps fine ? I am too paranoid about disturbing pressure in pipes and the extra precaution causing problem then benefits

Before going to vacation
========================
* Turn off water at main either at street access point or house access point
* Flush a toilet to lower pressure
* Put water heater on vacation mode
* Put house heating at 58-60 range



Coming back
===========
* Drain all pipes by opening all faucets and then leave only two faucets open one at higher level in house and one at lower level in house
* Turn on main water supply
* Put heater back on warm or hot setting

 

[Ishmael]

Sounds like a good plan, but if you have an instant hot water dispenser in the house, make sure you unplug that as well (then when you return, bleed all the air out of it before you plug it back in). And also shut off the icemaker in the refrigerator.

 

[joecaption]

Going on vacation. Trying to figure out best cautious steps to take.

Are below steps fine ? I am too paranoid about disturbing pressure in pipes and the extra precaution causing problem then benefits

Before going to vacation
========================
* Turn off water at main either at street access point or house access point
* Flush a toilet to lower pressure
* Put water heater on vacation mode
* Put house heating at 58-60 range



Coming back
===========
* Drain all pipes by opening all faucets and then leave only two faucets open one at higher level in house and one at lower level in house
* Turn on main water supply
* Put heater back on warm or hot setting

Makes no since, shut the water off, shut the breaker off to the water heater, turn down thermostat.
Come home just turn the water back on, reset the breaker, turn the heat back up.
Your way over thinking this simple process.

 

[oh'mike]

Good idea---I have seen a few frozen houses----water off when away is good---

Shut off water at the meter---open all faucets--flush the toilets---go and enjoy yourself---

Just don't turn that heater down to much and freeze the house---water will remain in some pipes and can freeze.

 

[AllanJ]

For a house that will be unoccupied for long periods of time I suggest draining pipes and tanks as best as possible and putting antifreeze in toilets and in all fixture traps.

Shut off the water heater (and if you have one, a wall pump) completely.

I would go so far as to disconnect the water supply line from the house plumbing so a slow leak can't refill the plumbing. (Good idea to have a universal joint installed.) It would be necessary to plug the pipe ends so dust and insects don't get in.

The above would not work for a vacation home that is used periodically during the winter since it takes time to do, and to refill the system on your next visit.

You should have a hot water faucet gushing before turning the water heater heat back on.

 

[joecaption]

O/P says there just going on vacation Allen.

 

[gregzoll]

I just shut the valve off in the house, turn down the water heater, raise the temp higher to keep a/c from coming on at the lower set point we keep it while home, or lower to keep heat from coming on during Winter too much (60 winter/76 summer). Only during Winter will I drain as much water from the lines, so that if the heat does go out, the lines do not freeze & burst.

We only do this if we are leaving for say 4 or more days, other wise if it is a short weekend getaway, leave alone.

 

[TheBobmanNH]

It would take a lot more than a few days vacation for your house to actually freeze. Back in 2010, when we had that big ice storm, I was out of power for 14 days. House never got below 45 degrees, and that was in the dead of winter during a cold snap.