Turn water main off while away?

D107

They asked if they should turn water main off as a freeze protection. (They have forced hot air Rheem furnace with separate direct HWH.) I suspect there's a downside--aside from the system filling up with a bit of air that they'll have to bleed from the faucets when they return.

Though I personally haven't turned the water off in situations like this, I went away for a few days once and the PRV valve burst from old age--luckily my wife was home otherwise would have been a rather nice flood.

I think it's a good idea to have a security system with a basement flood sensor and minimum temperature sensor and a friend or neighbor to drop by every few days. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

David

kevin coppinger_4

I do that...

I have FHW Panel rads...not that much air....peace of mind if a real issue were to happen...kpc

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Gene_3

I have seen many disasters

that would have been prevented IF they turned the water off.

If you have a well it will pump till dry

If you have city water there is no stopping it and YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL, all that water will usually run $600+++

I've seen cellars full and then the water comes out the front door, then the cops see it driving by and call it in.

adambuild

Morons

I know a guy who left the water on in his vacation home and got a water bill for $1200.00 and couldn't figure it out. Long story short: $85,000.00 worth of damage. I always shut it off when I go away. Even with a water sensor and a Sensaphone that calls me on my cell.

D107

Good to know

Which leads to:

1-A gas-fired direct HW tank should have it's incoming valve turned off (in case tank leaks) and its gas turned off so gas won't be firing on dry tank if leak happens. Yes?

2- Would turning main off have any consequences for a hot water heating system? Obviously couldn't feed if boiler leaked...In that case perhaps boiler would shut automatically on low water? and a temp sensor would alert you to low house temp? Nothing to prevent all system water from pouring out, but that's a limited amount. Sump pump?

I'd bet most people don't do all this, but it seems these shutoffs could be done very easily.

Thanks,

David

Ragu_5

Very Timely, David...

Yes, turn the water off when you go away.

Definitely install low water cutoffs on ALL boilers, as per Dan H.

Have a monitoring system installed that runs over the phone lines to either the fuel supplier or the service company. The oil systems around here have a 3 sensor alarm system. Sensor on oil tank, low temp air sensor and sensor on burner primary control (will ring at HQ in lockout conditions).

Winter Watchman (red light in the window) as backup.

Neighbor stopping by to check as 2nd backup.

I also like the idea of a sensor that rings if there is water on the cellar floor.

Heard about 3 houses in the past week that got flooded, and saw one personally.

Also: If there is or has been antifreeze in a hydronic system at some point in time, it needs to be checked, monitored and documented. Also the feed needs to be shut off. The job I looked at had 45 gallons of antifreeze installed in 1996 and had never been maintained; feed valve had been left on. Refractometer read: +32 degrees; lucky I could even get enough unfrozen water to take a reading.

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