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AC2717 · 05-10-2010, 07:43 AM

It is energy efficient to turn it off, but can be bad. When the water is heating to the point of getting it hot enough to shower in or whatever, and then cooled down, bacteria can grow in it and then it would need to be boiled to kill the bacteria, which the water heater does not get that hot. So if you are shutting the water heater off for a week it is best to let the water heat up and then run it for a whilte, then you are looking at being inefficient, best to do is turn the dial down but not off, if you have an electric one, it would be your call cause then you are wasting water to clear out the tank.

How do I know this, a cousin of mine got legioneers disease from just showering with a open cut/soar on his arm.

Side note, I turn the water main off to the cottage, I know there is nothing wrong with my water lines, but I like the piece of mind when I leave for a week or sometimes two, that I will not be coming back to a giant aquarium

05-10-2010, 07:43 AM	#13
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,585 Thanks: 756 Thanked 356 Times in 268 Posts	I like to turn it off but It is energy efficient to turn it off, but can be bad. When the water is heating to the point of getting it hot enough to shower in or whatever, and then cooled down, bacteria can grow in it and then it would need to be boiled to kill the bacteria, which the water heater does not get that hot. So if you are shutting the water heater off for a week it is best to let the water heat up and then run it for a whilte, then you are looking at being inefficient, best to do is turn the dial down but not off, if you have an electric one, it would be your call cause then you are wasting water to clear out the tank. How do I know this, a cousin of mine got legioneers disease from just showering with a open cut/soar on his arm. Side note, I turn the water main off to the cottage, I know there is nothing wrong with my water lines, but I like the piece of mind when I leave for a week or sometimes two, that I will not be coming back to a giant aquarium __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"