Community Forums

riverforest · 05-13-2019, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

I actually installed an electric valve in the main water feed to my house. Whenever we're gone for more than a few hours I just flip the switch on the way out.

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NICE...

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggcrisp

Yep, always turn off the water and water heater.

and toilet they have 1/4 turn valves. just incase the water gets mysteriously turned on and the toilet mysteriously starts running (it happened to me once)

Dutch Star Don · 05-13-2019, 08:19 PM

All of our landscape is on automatic sprinklers. On one trip a sprinkler valve broke and the water ran for about 8 hours before a neighbor noticed. Many may not know, but if you have a decent quality automatic sprinkler controller, there is wiring for a pump, as part of the unit. It's designed to turn on a pump so the sprinklers can run. I cut the mainline to the sprinkler valves, added an automatic valve (just like the sprinkler valves} and then wired it to the sprinkler controller. Now, when my sprinkler controller turns on, it opens that valve and supplies water to the sprinkler system. Once the watering is done it shuts the water off to the sprinkler valves. This way, if a sprinkler valve goes haywire, it can only do so for the duration that the sprinkler valves are on, versus 24/7.

I also have a separate valve for the house at the front hose, allowing me to turn off the water to the house.

Dav L · 05-13-2019, 10:15 PM

My house is on deep well water supply. Cut the power, no more water. I replaced the old 85 gallon expansion tank with a 4 gallon Cycle Stop tank that doesn't hold much residual water. There are moisture sensors at key places tied into the security system. The automation system then turns off a high amp relay to the pump when moisture is detected or we set the house to "Away" mode. In the winter, because the house is geothermal heated, the Away mode does NOT turn off the well pump (or no heat).

Mr_D · 05-13-2019, 10:24 PM

This time I turned off the water, the water heater and set the house thermometer to a higher set point for the air con and a lower set point for the heat. Been gone almost a month and will head home in a week. Oh yes, set the alarm system and informed the monitoring people.

winniman · 05-13-2019, 11:41 PM

My insurance specifies if I am gone over a certain amount of time, I believe a week, that I must shut off my water supply. It only make sense. Why risk leaving it on.

BurienTimmer · 05-14-2019, 12:23 AM

We shut ofc the water and the electricity to the water heater when we are gone longer than a few days. When we are gone for a month or more, I reduce our car insurance to comprehensive only.

boomersooner · 05-14-2019, 04:47 AM

We installed a valve close to the house and always turn the water off if we leave for more than a day. The irrigation system continues to run since we put the valve right next to the house.

brialin · 05-14-2019, 07:59 AM

I turn off the water whenever we leave for a few days or longer. Also shut off the oil burner. The oil burner will run to maintain boiler temperature for my domestic hot water.

rgvtexan · 05-14-2019, 08:44 AM

Not only a good Idea, but saves me Money.

When home and water is on minimum bill is$ 61.83
It includes $12.65 Ambulance. $4.90 Storm drain, $27.22 Sewer, $17.06 Water for a Total of $61.83 When the City turns it off I only pay $4.90 for Storm Drains. I save $56.92

It cost $15 for turn off and another for turn on. But when I spend 6 months as a Winter Texan, I save. $311.52 That's a Tank of Diesel!

Cat320 · 05-22-2019, 12:04 PM

I turn off the whole house water, but that leaves the line for the sprinkler system on.

barmcd · 05-22-2019, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450Donn

Were on a well, since we also have inground sprinklers I leave the water on. Turn off the water heater, set the AC to something like 75-78 and go

I had to laugh at that. I keep the AC on 78 when we're home!

Trapper2022 · 05-22-2019, 12:13 PM

When we were in a house followed the following rules

Always turn water to house off when on a trip.

Follow the four hour rule for electric. If gone for more than four hours Chang thermostats setting by four degrees. Means lower heat setting in winter before it kicks on or raise temp by four degrees in summer before ac turns on.

Worked for me

Cliffy · 05-22-2019, 12:15 PM

Don't forget the water softener Turn it off also or it cycles while you're gone.

wendyjeff · 05-22-2019, 12:17 PM

Whenever we are gone for more than overnight we always shut the water off. We have never had a problem but have heard too many horror stories about lines breaking and flooding the house.