Tag: heat

Introduction

It is always advisable to turn off water heaters whenever you are not using it, especially when you are on an extended vacation. Consequently, this will give you peace of mind knowing nothing is running that might result in overheating problems or other hazards. You also get to save a considerable amount of money.

Switch off the Valve

The first thing you should do is to switch off the gas control valve, which is either red or black. Typically, the gas valve is located in the tank’s front side close to the bottom. Occasionally, the valve is hidden by the insulation, and this thereby might necessitate you to pull back the insulation to find it. The dial sector is usually pointing at the “On” position because the water heater is open.

The first thing you should do is turning the dial to the “Off” position, which is past the “Pilot.” Doing this is crucial as the pilot is switched off, thus preventing the burner from igniting abruptly, subsequently causing a scare. Once you are done, take off the heat shield from below the valve and inspect inside to ensure the pilot tube is not emitting any flame.

It is only advisable to turn the dial to the “Pilot” position when servicing and not when going for an extended vacation because the pilot flame remains lit despite the burner not cycling on.

Turn off the Gas Line Valve

When you are out on vacation, the safest thing to do is to switch off the gas valve inside the gas supply line. The switch-off valve on the gas line is found close to the heater. To shut it off, you need to make a quarter-turn of the valve up to a point the lever, and the gas line is perpendicular to each other. If the gas valve is not close to the heater, follow the gas line until you see it. Nevertheless, if you experience any difficulty locating it, contact the gas utility for advice on what to do.

Drain the heater

Before turning off the water heater, you should first drain it as a precautionary measure. However, you need to wait at least 12 hours after switching off the gas valve to ensure the water inside the tank has cooled down. Likewise, it is advisable to drain your heater during winter because the temperature reaches freezing point, causing the water inside the container to freeze.

Conclusion

Having gone through this article, you now know how to turn off the water heater when not in use during vacations. Therefore, you get to enjoy your holiday without having to worry about a possible hazard happening while you are away from your home.