Shut off water at home???

jplante4 wrote:
... diaphragm in the expansion tank on the heating system ruptured. ... pressure control from the hot water heating pipes and resulted in the water in the pipes expanding and contracting...

So, we're headed south for the winter...

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I do have a comment here.

jplante4:
I've had to live with the hot water system in my mother's house for 60 years now! I absolutely hate that system. But... here's something you need to consider.... that makes these systems horrid! You CANNOT turn the main source of water off when you have a hot water pipe system.

The pipes have small air valves that allows water and vapor to escape the system. Although small, it's designed to do that. When the pressure in the pipes reaches a designated "low", a valve turns on and allows water (from your water source) to fill the heating pipes again. If the water is not supplied, you will have air gaps in the heating pipes, and once there is an air-gap, the water will not circulate throughout the house.

You MUST keep the water turned on so there is a constant feed of new water into the heating pipes when this evaporation and then contraction occurs.

Yes, the bladder is designed to help regulate the pressure, but there must still be a constant availability for water to enter the system. Turn the water off at the main source and you'll have a furnace guy out bleeding all those furnace water lines... which isn't a fun job to do either!

Just an FYI and something to think about.