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I have a brand new AO Smith 50gal gas water heater. Today there was a burst pipe from the cold spell we're having currently, so I had to turn off the water main to the house until the plumbers get here tomorrow.

With that, nobody had used any hot water all day so it should be full, but do I need to turn the water heater off until the water can be turned back on tomorrow to avoid any damage etc?

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  • With so many good answers I'm not sure which to mark correct? The hot water heater is located in the basement (lowest point) and I did go ahead and shut off the inlet and lower the temp to be safe. Now just not sure how to figure out who to mark as the right answer since in my opinion they're all correct?
    – Chris W.
    Jan 8, 2014 at 19:43

6 Answers 6

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Water heaters have a dip tube on the cold water side that puts the cold water into the bottom of the tank. If water pressure is lost on the cold water side, the tank can siphon down through the cold water inlet till it reaches the bottom of the dip tube. Then since there's no water in the tank to absorb heat, the dip tube can melt and the tank can be damaged.

It would be best to at least set the heater so it is on pilot only.

Note: Manufacturer AO Smith states in their manuals that their gas water heaters must not be operated without being certain it's filled or with the cold water inlet shutoff valve closed.

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  • So I should at least turn the heat down is what you're saying?
    – Chris W.
    Jan 8, 2014 at 3:40
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    Since there's zero chance of harm from turning the thermostat all the way down to the pilot-only setting, and a potential for harm if the water siphons out through the dip tube, I'd just go ahead and turn it down. Worst case you need to wait an hour or two for the water to heat up after the plumbing is fixed. if it were in an unheated space and was at risk of freezing, that might be another story.
    – Johnny
    Jan 8, 2014 at 4:30
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    Can you link to an AO Smith manual, and/or quote the text from the manual here?
    – Tester101
    Jan 8, 2014 at 11:29
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    If the water heater is in the lowest part of the house and there is no water pressure from the mains, how can the water drain from the tank? Siphons only move water from a higher level to a lower one. If all the outlets are above at least the middle of the tank, wouldn't most or all remain?
    – bib
    Jan 8, 2014 at 13:39
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    @bib the original asker didn't say where the water heater is located or where the burst pipe is. Turning off the thermostat takes such little effort with no harmful side effects that I can't believe it's resulted in so much discussion.
    – Johnny
    Jan 8, 2014 at 16:33
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Before the use of pressure relief valves, homeowners were always urged to shut off the gas or electricity to a water heater which has the water cut off.

The reasoning was simple: When the water heater came on to heat up its reservoir, it would cause the water to expand, and therefore pressurize, to the point where the tank or a pipe would rupture. As long as the inlet valve were open to the distribution system, heating water would expand slightly into the city system and not build up pressure.

That is still good advice because many overpressure/overtemperature valves discharge into an inconvenient area—which could cause water damage, cause electrical concerns, etc. If quick freezing conditions are present at the discharge, the valve's function might be impaired, resulting in 1960s over pressurization concerns.

Better to be safe than sorry. These cost very little, and may save some hassle:

  • shut off the water inlet at the tank to prevent siphoning
  • shut off electricity and gas to the heater to prevent undesired discharge, and possible over pressurization
  • leave as much hot water in the tank as possible to forestall freezing concerns if your heating system becomes inoperable.
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This answer is my opinion as a technician to the simple question:

If my water heater is left on, and the water is shut off, will this damage the gas fired water heater if the hot water will not be used very much, or not at all?

Considering you wont be using the water, and it will only be off for a short time there is no risk at all. You can also shut off the cold feed valve to ensure water isnt siphoned out of the tank if cold water is used with the tank off. This would also not allow much hot water to be used out of the tank as you have now air locked the system.

The water heater will still turn on and off to maintain the water temperature inside of the tank. Think about if you have ever gone away for a prolonged period of time. Normally there will be no water use for days or weeks and this causes no problems to the tank. Even if water is used from the tank most (if not all) water heaters have low water cutoffs built into the unitroll (or aquastat). Now The tank has a dip tube for inlet. This dip tube normally stops 4 to 8 inches above the unitroll (which regulates temperature of the water). This ensures that for whatever reason, if the cold supply looses pressure, the water inst siphoned out of the tank completly. This avoids the tank being "tricked" to continuously run to try to maintain temperature if all of the hot water is used up. This also avoids the possibility of a melting dip tube or catastrophic failure of the tank.

Realistically there is no danger to having the tank on with the water off. Especially since the tank works off water pressure to supply hot water. The tank pressure will be equal to your water pressure. If there is no inlet water pressure, there will be no outlet water pressure.

If shutting off your water and leaving your water heater on could cause damage or catastrophic failure, then water heater manufacturers would be up to there necks in law suits. Even if it did cause issues, all the parts, and even the labor should be covered by the manufacturer.

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  • Ya if you wouldn't mind, with the conflicting answers I just don't want to risk damaging a brand new heater (less than a month old)
    – Chris W.
    Jan 8, 2014 at 3:40
  • There you go. I would be more concerned about shutting off the cold feed shut off valve rather than the tank itself.
    – Mnc123
    Jan 8, 2014 at 4:25
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When I go on vacation in the winter I always turn of the main water valve. I also turn off the water valve into the water heater, and drain the pipes in the house at the lowest faucet. I have done this for 25 years in three different houses, two with gas heaters and on an oil zone. I have had absolutely no problem with any of those heaters.

Here a tip for maintaining a healthy water heater: drain a bucket of water from its bottom valve every six months. The last hot water heater I had, AO Smith 75 gallon, was put in when I built my previous house in 1996, and is still working fine for the people who bought the house in 2011; that's 17 years so far. The tank in my current house is on an oil furnace zone, and does not have a lower drain faucet. That is because it is completely insulated, as it has not direct burner.

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  • None of this really answers the question being asked.
    – BMitch
    Jan 9, 2014 at 20:27
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My understanding is that if you go away on vacation, turn off main water and turn off inlet water to the heater. Lower the temperature on the water heater to save energy. Don't bother turning off the water heater.

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When I leave the house for any length of time, days, weeks etc. I always turn off the water at the incoming street source. I disconnect the electricity to the water heater since have electronic ignition. Now if a pipe in house fails, only the water in the pipes can drain out to house. Top floor, very little water will be in house, lowest level, more obviously. But at least that's it. Re the water heater, with whole system off, if it develops leak, only water in tank will drain out and being off, no chance of internal system failing and having water heater calling for more heat for water that isn't there and possibly creating overheating or damage. When get home, turn on the water and turn on the water heater, have a glass of wine and enjoy the memories while shower water heating.

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    The OP wasn't talking about what to do during a vacation; they were talking about shutting off the water heater during an interruption in their water supply. Please update your post to answer the question. Thanks!
    – Niall C.
    Jan 2, 2015 at 1:34

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