Prudence or Paranoia?

[byways]

I shut off my water to the TT every time we leave. I just don't trust the system to hold, and I certainly don't want to clean up a mess when I return. Is this unwarranted paranoia, or is it prudence? Do you shut your water off?

What other things do you do every time you leave?

[byways]

JJBIRISH wrote:
It is actually PRUDENT PARANOIA…

That is, it is something most likely not necessary under normal conditions and shouldn’t be of great concern… but a moving home made by the great quality first RV industry is anything but normal conditions, and the damage it can cause if unattended allows for prudent paranoia…

This is the best answer yet, IMO!

[Pangaea_Ron]

wny_pat wrote:

byways wrote:

IAMICHABOD wrote:
Always turn it off while in FHU site also turn off pump when dry camping.

Not to hijack the thread BUT,I have to ask when you leave home for a camping trip do you do the same in your Stick and Bricks?

I do since a neighbor that left for the weekend and had a fitting come loose in the bathroom and flooded his house!!!

Not paranoid just trying to not have that Murphy's Law kick in.

I don't...but now you have me wondering. We do when leaving for a road trip overnight, but not for a day long trip.

I'm paranoid too, but the stick house, yes when going on a extended trip I turn it off at the entrance before the meter. But now I'm wondering too. How about when I go shopping with the dw??? It doesn't take long. A lot of water damage can happen in a couple hours. But don't think I'm going to get to concerned. I figure I'm on borrowed time anyway, so whats it matter?

We had a friend leave on a trip to Europe for 3 weeks, and came back to find that 16,000 gallons of water had exited the refrigerator ice maker hose, and flooded much of their house. They and we also turn off the water when we leave now.

[larry_barnhart]

downtheroad wrote:
It's prudence...or else I'm paranoid.

Have used one of these right at the spigot before my regulator for years.

where did you buy this faucet?
chevman

[JJBIRISH]

It is actually PRUDENT PARANOIA…

That is, it is something most likely not necessary under normal conditions and shouldn’t be of great concern… but a moving home made by the great quality first RV industry is anything but normal conditions, and the damage it can cause if unattended allows for prudent paranoia…

[byways]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Prudence trumps wishful thinking.......

Like! If paranoia breeds prudence, then is paranoia bad?

[doxiemom11]

We are full-timers and the only time we have shut the water off was when we were leaving the rig parked for 2 weeks.

[drfife]

Paranoia

[rondeb]

We try and remember, but are not in the habit, so it gets turned off occasionally. I wish we remembered every time. Going to put a note up from now on.

You would think we would never forget since we had a underwater filter cartridge split once and flooded everything from about mid coach back. Had to have carpet everything replaced and this was sitting in our driveway. We actually had forgot to put the water regulator on and the water pressure was obviously too high or just a weak filter.

Glad this came up, I will do something to remind us everytime until it becomes automatic from now on.

[mlts22]

If I'm in the trailer, I leave it going. However, if I'm going to be away for a weekend, I turn the water heater and pump off, then de-pressurize the system by opening the toilet valve. When I'm gone, I unplug and disconnect the battery, but that is usually because I am boondocking and would end up with those discharged due to parasitic losses.

I really wish RV makers would have some line of models where they didn't use cheap crimping on the plumbing and used home-grade electrical wiring. Perhaps 1-2 gauges larger, so a 1500 watt heater won't cause issues. I don't know what really is the best, but so far, I've seen far better ways to ensure PEX connections don't leak than the ear clips that most rings have.

[Aridon]

I shut it off if we are leaving for a vacation or something. Otherwise no.

[poppin_fresh]

I started turning mine off this weekend when we left, but only because I just installed a new city water connection and I didn't totally trust it yet. 🙂

Needless to say it was fine, but I still think I will get in the habit of turning off the supply when we are gone for a long time. If it's gonna happen, it will probably be to me...

Jon

[Community Alumni]

Rick Jay wrote:
I always shut off the water when we leave.

I have a question: For all of you who shut the water off, do you make sure to shut off the water heater too? It would be bad if the leak caused the hot water tank to drain and then the electric and/or gas heater kicked in.

Yeah..."paranoid" might describe me. 🙂

~Rick

Always, we never leave the heater on when we are away from the camper.

[mowermech]

byways wrote:

Yaj wrote:

byways wrote:


What other things do you do every time you leave?

I always put on clean underwear!:B

:h

Obviously, we have someone here who has never heard the "Mommy" (or "Grandmother") quote that one should alsways ensure they have clean underwear on before going anywhere, because it would be embarrassing to be admitted to the hospital after an accident wearing dirty underwear!

But then, to the issue at hand;
No, I don't turn the water off when I leave. Nor do I turn the water heater off and on a couple of times a day. Nor do I turn the electricity off. Nor do I have a water pressure regulator or an electrical surge protector.
In fact, the coach is sitting in the driveway as I type, with the electricity plugged in, the water pump on (because I forgot to turn it off), and the frig running on AC.
In fact, I do about everything "wrong" (many would say), and have had no troubles in years.
Just lucky, I guess.
But, YOU should do what makes YOU comfortable!

[Bobbo]

Rick Jay wrote:
I have a question: For all of you who shut the water off, do you make sure to shut off the water heater too? It would be bad if the leak caused the hot water tank to drain and then the electric and/or gas heater kicked in.

I don't turn off the water heater. I never leave the propane element on, just the electric element. If the water heater were to drain, the electric element would burn out quickly. Otherwise, no damage should be done. The electric heater element is cheap and (relatively) easily replaced.