water supply to water heater

[jtintx]

I'm full of questions today. Ever since I had the flood in TT I turn the water supply off when I leave for more than an hour. My question is, if I forget to turn off the water heater, whether gas or electric, will the heating element burn up or will the water stay in the tank and protect it?

Also, any tips or tricks to remember to turn off the electric switch to the water heater?

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by jtintx

I'm full of questions today. Ever since I had the flood in TT I turn the water supply off when I leave for more than an hour. My question is, if I forget to turn off the water heater, whether gas or electric, will the heating element burn up or will the water stay in the tank and protect it?

The water stays in it. I do the same thing when I leave my camper unattended, and turn off the water supply at the campground faucet.

I have a camping buddy, who unknowingly left his shower faucets on partly, when winterizing and draining the lines. He forgot to turn the shower back off, and didn't notice it when he hooked up to campground water. A few hours later when he returned to his camper, his grey water tank had filled up and was overflowing in his shower, and had flooded part of his carpet & floor.....and was dripping out his trailer. The campground had a shop vac they let him borrow to suck it up.

After his experience, I turn the water off to my trailer when not there.

[B47]

Originally Posted by wmtire

The water stays in it. I do the same thing when I leave my camper unattended, and turn off the water supply at the campground faucet.

X2 - I carry this one step further when we leave the house for an extended stay.

I brought a curb key and turn the water off at the curb in the city meter box and don't worry about a leak.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by jtintx

Also, any tips or tricks to remember to turn off the electric switch to the water heater?

Some people make a bright colored tag on a string that they hang outside the water heater outside access door....to remind them that the water heater electric element is on.

Some people also take clothespins and put the pins on their trailers coupler hitch to remind them when they are hooking up. You can get colored pins or just plain wooden ones that you can write on with a Sharpie. You can use the pins to remind you of the TV antenna being up (and keep the clothespin on the antenna crank handle when not up), water heater element on (and keep the clothespin inside the water heater compartment when not on), steps, etc.

The clothespins being on your trailers hitch will always remind you......before you can hook up to the tow vehicle.

Now if you just want to spend the money and go first class:

http://www.rvminders.com/

[B47]

Originally Posted by wmtire

Some people make a bright colored tag on a string that they hang outside the water heater outside access door....to remind them that the water heater electric element is on.

Some people also take clothespins and put the pins on their trailers coupler hitch to remind them when they are hooking up. You can get colored pins or just plain wooden ones that you can write on with a Sharpie. You can use the pins to remind you of the TV antenna being up (and keep the clothespin on the antenna crank handle when not up), water heater element on (and keep the clothespin inside the water heater compartment when not on), steps, etc.

The clothespins being on your trailers hitch will always remind you......before you can hook up to the tow vehicle.

Or you can simply make (and follow) a checklist that includes these steps and many others.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by wmtire

If you just want to spend the money and go first class:

RVminders: Safety warning system for RVs

As a kid, these snap bracelets were popular and now they're making a come back. These are essentially the same thing as this product and can be written on with a marker.

[jtintx]

Thanks everyone. It's good to know that if I forget to turn off the water heater it's not going to burn up. The blue light in the trailer is a great reminder to turn off the gas to the water heater...but no such reminder for electric.