Turning your gas water heater down to the "Pilot" setting during an extended vacation lasting a week or more is a smart, energy-saving practice that prevents the main burner from cycling and burning fuel unnecessarily while the home is unoccupied. Modern gas water heaters consume very little energy when idling on the pilot flame, yet dropping the setting reduces standby heat loss and lowers utility bills while you are away. However, for short weekend trips of just a couple of days, the energy savings are minimal, so leaving the unit on its normal operating temperature setting is usually preferred to avoid the minor hassle of relighting the pilot and waiting for the entire tank to reheat upon your return.
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