Turning Off Water Before Vacation

[WEDWDW]

Does anyone turn off the water to the water heater,toilets,etc. before leaving on vacation in case of a leak while you are away?I have never done this,but am thinking it might be a good idea.Also,do you unplug televisions,computers,etc. in case of lightning or a power surge while you are away?Thanks.

 

[Pam]

Yes, we do all of that.

 

[Sandy V.]

We turn off the water if we're going to be gone overnight or longer, mainly because we have a pair of 14 year old water heaters that are on their last legs, and we're afraid that they'll give out while we're gone and flood everything!

We always unplug televisions and computers as well, just to be on the safe side.

 

[Bonnie40]

Yup! We unplug everything and turn the water off.

 

[MBeds]

i don't turn off or unplug...

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I have never turned off or unplugged. However!.....My boss just had a horrible ordeal when she returned home from vacation and she HAD turned off the water. I don't know exactly how it happened, but somehow the water line to the ice maker on her freezer burst. She had over 10,000 gallons of water go through her house. They just returned back to the house after having to stay in a hotel for over 3 weeks while they took out every cabinet, pulled up all of the carpet, all of the floors, and took out most of the walls, and replaced everything. Now, I'm scared to death. I want to shut everything thing down when I leave home, lol. She said they always turn off that stuff, but never even thought about the ice maker. I guess if something is going to happen it's going to happen. ugh

 

[mickeysgal]

I have never turned off or unplugged. However!.....My boss just had a horrible ordeal when she returned home from vacation and she HAD turned off the water. I don't know exactly how it happened, but somehow the water line to the ice maker on her freezer burst. She had over 10,000 gallons of water go through her house.

I've heard of similar stories...just instead of the ice maker, with the line to the washing machine. Now I always turn off the water to the washer but never thought to do the water heaters. No, I don't unplug the TVs....they're in large bulky wall units.

 

[ChristmasElf]

We turn the water heater down as well as adjust the thermostat. I actually leave one of the televisions ON, as well as a light in the house so it looks like someone is home. Especially at night when the TV shows that it is on, I like to leave burglars guessing I suppose.

 

[WEDWDW]

Thanks for the replies.I think I will err on the side of caution and go through the hassle of turning off and unplugging.

 

[Missy1961]

I unplug small appliances (toaster, etc.) as I use them. I don't unplug the TVs, VCRs because I don't feel like reprogramming things when I get back. And we have timers on a few of the lamps. I have the computer plugged into a surge protector, so I turn that off. We don't usually turn the water off, but I think it's a good idea.

 

[hemispheredancer]

I turn the hot water tank to vacation setting and shut off the gas line going to the BBQ. I will usually turn the heat down to 66 or 67 (we go in March) too. I will unplug the toaster and coffee pot but that is about it.

 

[Niagara2]

We turn the water main off in cellar that comes in from the outside. That would prevent a really bad leak. Some water will still be in pipes. We worry about pipes freezing too. We had a leak in the ice line on fridge once.. Cellar walls were wet but we caught it as we were home. Water leaks are the worst, Funny though, we could be gone for 8 hours and house could be ruined from a leak - Oh well, can't live a life worrying about everything. Do the best we can to prevent it. I turn heat to 55 degrees when we go away.

 

[CheshireVal]

No-- all we do is turn off the power strip to the computer and turn the heat way down (or in the summer, turn the A/C way up).

But... we have cats who stay behind (cat sitter comes in) so we can't really shut everything down completely, like water.

 

[Nancy]

Don't do any of that. I'm lucky if I remember to turn off lights and lock the doors before I go! We leave our 2 cats here, and we have someone stop by everyday to check on them..they need the water to fill their dish. I'm not to worried about lightening or anything, I am not one of those that unplugs stuff during a storm. I would hate to have to come home and re-program everything I unplugged.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yep, we have learned the hard way. Our hot water heater.

DH always goes out to our main and turns off our water!

PS: about the leaks mentioned here, if you havent turned off your water at some kind of main control, then it isn't off.