Mrmichaeljmoore
Member
I have a question regarding turning off the main water supply to the house but leaving the hot water heater on. The water heater is a Whirpool ELECTRIC water heater. I think it is 40 gallon.
Here's the backstory: I came home last night to find that the supply line to my basment utility sink had worked its way loose, dumping a few inches of water onto my basement floor.
Needless to say, I am now a bit paranoid about leaving the house and coming home to find a pool in my basement.
So, I was thinking that when I leave for work in the morning, or go away for the weekend I will turn off the well pump switch and close the ball valve at the bottom of the well retention tank....thereby if I do get a leak, only what is in the lines will come out...
But, I remember reading somewhere that turning off the water supply, but leaving the hot water heater on could cause a problem. Something about evaporation in the water heater tank??
So, here are my questions:
1. If I decide that everytime I leave the house, I will turn off the main water supply to the house, should I turn off the breaker to the water heater?
2. How long can the tank sit powered on, but with the water supply closed?
3. Would I need to turn it off daily when I leave for work or only when I go away for a few days?
Thanks.
mm
Here's the backstory: I came home last night to find that the supply line to my basment utility sink had worked its way loose, dumping a few inches of water onto my basement floor.
Needless to say, I am now a bit paranoid about leaving the house and coming home to find a pool in my basement.
So, I was thinking that when I leave for work in the morning, or go away for the weekend I will turn off the well pump switch and close the ball valve at the bottom of the well retention tank....thereby if I do get a leak, only what is in the lines will come out...
But, I remember reading somewhere that turning off the water supply, but leaving the hot water heater on could cause a problem. Something about evaporation in the water heater tank??
So, here are my questions:
1. If I decide that everytime I leave the house, I will turn off the main water supply to the house, should I turn off the breaker to the water heater?
2. How long can the tank sit powered on, but with the water supply closed?
3. Would I need to turn it off daily when I leave for work or only when I go away for a few days?
Thanks.
mm
