If you’re going away for a day or two, it’s probably best to leave the water heater as is, or you could turn it down to a lower temperature. Be careful, however, as to the location of the water heater. If it is in the garage or external-adjacent area, the water heater could be prone to freezing temperatures in the winter during a cold snap (luckily we don’t have too many of those days here in Victoria and Lower Vancouver Island). Better safe than sorry, so avoid frozen pipes.
For longer vacations or periods out of town or away from the house, it’s best to go ahead and turn the water heater down to a ‘vacation’ setting (if available) or to its lowest temperature setting. Again, be mindful of wintertime and the effect of cold snaps with freezing temperatures. If you plan to turn the water heater off, be aware of how to restart the pilot light for gas water heaters.
Also, water heater tanks that are not heated or not heated sufficiently are subject to bacteria forming in the water in the tank. When you return, be sure to run the water in sinks, tubs and/or showers for a good length of time, to “run through” or ‘wash away” any bacteria and microbial matter that could be in the water heater tanks.
If you have a tankless water heater, well, it will be off anyway, but check it to make sure before you go away.
And bon voyage from your friends at Drain Pro. Don’t hesitate to drop us a postcard or fire away with any questions you might have about water heaters, plumbing or other related matters.