I'm shutting off the water for an upcoming vacation. I know to turn off my gas water heaters, but I'm wondering if there is anything special that needs to be done for the water softener? Do you just unplug it so it doesn't try to run?

That's what I'd do. But it shouldn't run if you aren't using water unless it's a timed regen and not a usage regen. Either way, pull the plug and you're good to go.

Maybe shut off the ice maker too.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Newb here. I have a gas tankless water heater and a water softener system. Why would I shut them down while on vacation?

A lot of people shut water off so if there's a leak they don't come home to a huge mess.

A water softener typically goes through a regen cycle once a week, where it uses supply water to cleanse the resin. If you don't have your supply on, the water softener won't be able to run a regen cycle.

I think the OP is talking about tanked heaters, and the biggest benefit to cutting them off is just the fuel savings of not heating water that isn't being used. But for both tanked and tankless, if you don't have supply, you don't want your units to run if there's no make-up water. It's an unlikely risk, but just a good measure for safety.

Will this turn off the water to your sprinkler system as well?

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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Will this turn off the water to your sprinkler system as well?

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typically you're sprinklers are tied in out side before you're house supply. In fact, I think code says it has to be connected before the house and with a back flow preventer.

For the most part this ^. But there are just so many possibilities out there. A lot of houses don't have main cutoff valves, so you have to close the valve at the meter. Usually this will kill the sprinklers, but there are some houses that have non-potable well water or other supplies for the sprinklers. Etc. May just need to close your valve and see what still runs.

If you have a softener, and you should usually be able to cut it off there. If you're watering your yard with softened water, you may have bigger issues.

agracer said:

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Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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Will this turn off the water to your sprinkler system as well?

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typically you're sprinklers are tied in out side before you're house supply. In fact, I think code says it has to be connected before the house and with a back flow preventer.

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This is how mine is configured. I don't turn off my sprinkler water when I'm away.