If your water heater has a Vacation or Away setting, use it as the manual directs while you're away. It reduces heating when nobody needs hot water. The setting and temperature vary by model, so don't copy another heater's instructions. For a long absence, freezing conditions, or a planned water shutoff, ask a plumber about the right setup.
Before you leave
- Find your model's instructions. Look for “Vacation,” “Away,” or “extended shutdown.” Note your current setting so you can restore it.
- Use the normal controls. If the manual provides an away mode, select it there. Some models also let you set a return date.
- Look for leaks. Dampness or corrosion around the heater needs attention before a trip.
- Plan separately for cold weather. Vacation mode isn't a winterization plan for the house.
What changes by heater type?
- Gas tank: some models have a Vacation position on the temperature control. Follow the manual; Vacation, Pilot, and Off aren't interchangeable.
- Electric or heat pump tank: some have an away mode on the display or app. If yours doesn't, check its shutdown instructions rather than opening thermostat panels to improvise a setting.
- Tankless: check the model's absence and freeze protection instructions before disconnecting power. It doesn't store a full tank of hot water, so tank heater advice doesn't transfer directly.
There's no single vacation temperature that applies to all of these. For example, Rheem's ProTerra away mode has different controls from its gas tank models.
Should you turn off the water too?
Plan that with the water heater's instructions and the rest of your plumbing. Closing only the heater's inlet valve doesn't shut off water to the whole house. For an extended trip or a winter shutdown, have a plumber explain what to close, what to leave powered, and how to restart safely.
Use the pre-vacation home checklist for the rest of the house.
When you get home
Restore the normal setting using the manual and allow time for hot water to recover. If the tank was drained or the supply was shut off, follow the manufacturer's restart procedure. Never energize an empty electric tank.
If you find a leak, an error, or an unfamiliar gas control, stop and get service rather than trying repeated restarts.