How to Use Your Water Heater's Vacation Mode

By James Fitzgerald

August 29, 2025

If you’re heading out of town for an extended period, you might be wondering what to do with your water heater while you’re away. Should you turn it off entirely? Leave it running as usual?

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Fortunately, many modern water heaters offer a middle-ground option: vacation mode. Learn what vacation mode does, how to use it and how much energy it can save below.

What Is the Vacation Mode on My Water Heater?

Vacation mode (sometimes referred to as "pilot mode," ‘"away" setting or "holiday mode") is a setting that reduces the temperature your water heater maintains while you’re away from home. Instead of heating water to the usual 120 degree Fahrenheit to 140 degrees F, vacation mode typically drops the temperature to between 50 and 70 degrees F. This is high enough to prevent freezing or bacterial growth (like Legionella), but low enough to significantly reduce energy consumption.

It's a feature commonly found on gas and electric water heaters (especially newer or energy-efficient models) and can be either manually set via a dial or selected on a digital control panel.

Where Is the Vacation Mode on My Water Heater?

The location of the vacation mode depends on your water heater’s type and model. On gas water heaters with dial thermostats, look for a setting labeled “vacation” on the temperature dial, which is usually located near the base of the unit. It’s often marked between the “Low” and “Off” positions. On electric water heaters or smart models, vacation mode may be accessible through a digital interface or smart thermostat. You may need to toggle through the settings or use a connected app. On tankless water heaters, many high-end systems have programmable settings for vacations that can be set through their onboard display or remotely through Wifi controls. If you're unsure, consult your owner’s manual or search your model number online for specific instructions.

How Do I Use Vacation Mode?

Using vacation mode is typically fairly straightforward.

For gas water heaters, turn the thermostat dial to the “Vacation” setting. If the dial doesn't include a vacation option, turn it to the lowest setting (usually “Pilot” or “Low”).
For electric water heaters, navigate the control panel menu and select “Vacation,” “Away,” or “Eco” mode. Most units allow you to set the number of days you'll be gone, automatically restoring normal operation when you return.
For smart water heaters, use the mobile app associated with your unit to put it in vacation or away mode. Many systems let you schedule recurring absences or monitor energy savings in real time.

If your water heater doesn’t have vacation mode, you can manually reduce the temperature to about 50 F to mimic its effects. Just remember to turn it back up when you return.

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How Long Can a Water Heater Be Left on Vacation Mode?

There’s no strict time limit for how long a water heater can remain in vacation mode, but it’s most commonly used for absences of 3 days or longer like weekend getaways, business trips, long vacations and extended seasonal home closures. Gas water heaters can safely stay in vacation mode for several weeks. Electric units can often remain in eco or vacation mode indefinitely, though it’s best to check your model's specifications. If you'll be away for months, consider fully turning off the unit and draining the tank - especially in cold climates where freezing is a risk.

Does Vacation Mode on a Water Heater Save Energy?

Significantly. Heating water accounts for roughly 18% of your home’s energy bill, making it one of the top energy consumers in the household. Vacation mode reduces this draw by lowering standby heat loss, reducing total gas or electricity use and avoiding full reheat cycles while no hot water is needed.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, simply turning your water heater down during absences can save 3% to 5% on your annual water heating costs per trip. Smart models can even provide usage reports showing exact savings. For maximum efficiency, consider combining vacation mode with other travel prep like unplugging appliances and use a timer or smart controller to automate the return to normal temperature a few hours before you arrive home.

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