How to shut off the water before you travel
To turn off water before vacation, close the main house valve before you leave, after checking that it really stops the water. Decide what still needs water, such as sprinklers, set the water heater to vacation mode if it has one, and reopen the main slowly when you get back, watching for leaks.
What stays on when you turn off water before vacation
Few people bother with this. In a Chubb survey, 88% of respondents knew where their water main was and how to shut it off, but only 22% turned it off before a vacation. Among those who'd had a leak in the past two years, 57% spent $5,000 or more on cleanup and repairs, and 15% spent $20,000 or more.
Use the valve inside the house, not the one at the street. Ready.gov explains that closing the house valve keeps gravity from draining your water heater and toilet tanks. The street valve is hard to turn and needs a special tool.
Before you close anything, go through what depends on that water. Plumbing varies, so check your own house.
| Item | With the main closed | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinklers | May still run if they connect ahead of the valve, or may stop | Test a zone during your practice run, then shut off or reset the system to suit |
| Tank water heater | Tank stays full | Use vacation mode or turn the temperature down a little |
| Tankless heater | Varies | Follow the manual |
| Dishwasher, washer, ice maker | No supply | Don't leave a cycle running when you go |
| Indoor fire sprinklers | May lose supply | Ask the installer before you close the main |
| Sump pump | Runs on power, not house water | Leave it plugged in |
How to shut off water before vacation and turn it back on
- Do a practice run
About a week out, close the main slowly and open a faucet on the lowest floor. The flow should taper off and stop.
- Check what lost water
Test a sprinkler zone and an outdoor faucet while the main is closed. Then reopen it.
- Finish the appliances
On departure day, make sure the dishwasher and washer are done.
- Set the water heater
Use vacation mode or lower the temperature a few degrees. Roto-Rooter also suggests turning it off if the water will stay off for a while, so check your manual first.
- Close the main
Do this last, on your way out. Turn it slowly, and look for a drip at the stem.
- Reopen it slowly when you return
Open the main a little at a time, then fully. Back a gate valve off a quarter turn.
- Walk the house
Run a faucet until the flow is steady, reset the water heater, and check under sinks and around the washer for new leaks.
Leave a note when you shut off water before vacation
Leave a short note for anyone who may come in: water is off at the main, where the valve is, and which way opens it. A house-sitter who finds dry faucets shouldn't have to call you to solve it.
Put a matching reminder on your phone for your return, and add water to your departure checklist next to locks and thermostats, so it happens every trip. In freezing weather, keep the heat on. Closing the main stops new water from coming in, but the pipes stay full.
If you can't turn off water before vacation
If your practice run shows the main won't close or won't seal, book a plumber before the trip. Ready.gov says a valve that doesn't close fully should be replaced. Don't force it the morning you leave, because old valves can break.
If you're short on time, close what you can trust. The supply valves behind the washer and under the toilets are the next best thing. Chubb says plumbing supply systems are the biggest leak risk, more so than water heaters, so a closed fixture valve helps but doesn't replace the main.
If something must keep running and the main has to stay open, a water leak detection device is the backup. Only 18% of Chubb's respondents had one. Also ask a neighbor to walk through the house. Ask your insurer whether your policy has conditions for a home left empty, since those vary.
If you have a manual gate-type backwater valve on your sewer line, FEMA suggests closing it for absences of more than a day or two in case storms hit, and turning off the main at the same time.
Should I turn off my water when I go on vacation?
Should I turn off my water for a weekend trip?
There's no fixed rule, and the choice depends on how much you trust your plumbing. It takes only minutes once you know the valve works. A supply line that fails on Friday can run all weekend.
Should I turn off the water heater when I go on vacation?
Advice differs. Many heaters have a vacation mode, and that or a lower temperature setting is the usual step. Follow your manual, especially for a tankless unit, and don't relight a gas pilot yourself if you're unsure how.
Will my sprinklers still work if I shut off the main?
Sometimes. Some systems connect ahead of the house valve and keep running, while others stop. Test a zone with the main closed so you know before you leave.
Sources: chubb.com, Ready.gov, azure.rotorooter.com, kltv.com, inspectandtest.net, FEMA
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.