House temp sensor

[nate379]

I am not home for a couple weeks at a time often and I always worry about the boiler shutting down and the pipes freezing.

I have been looking at a couple do hickeys that call when the temp goes down to 40* or whatever. Anyone use one before?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AF601M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Only thing is my land line is local only and for some reason I can't call my cell phone from home

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IF9KC6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[clean]

Some oil companies, maybe gas co. too can install a monitor.

 

[nate379]

Don't believe there is a such thing around here. What I listed seems like it would work, I have a couple friends with keys to the house, so they'd be able check on the place if I was getting called by the thing.

 

[Friartuck]

Have the Freeze monitor call one of the friends (local call) instead of you. They also make temp sensors (monitor's) that control 110 volt devices. Connect to a strong red flood light pointed towards a neighbor or perhaps an audible siren.

 

[malibu101]

A buddy of mine had the same issues and pretty much did what Friartuck said.
Took a line voltage heating thermostat and wired it to a floodlight shineing right at the next door neighbors house. If the temp would have gotten low enough to make the thermostat call for heat it would turn the light on.
Simple and cheap assumimg you have a responseable neighbor within view of your house.

 

[nate379]

My neighbor is often gone as well (we are both military) and not on good terms with the other one.

Working to see if I can switch my cell number to a local one since my friends don't have local to me numbers either.

I didn't even know that my cell wasn't local until I was looking for it one day and tried calling.

 

[CraigFL]

You might be able to call your cellphone number if you first dial a 800 calling card number. You then would need a plan as to what to do when you're a million miles away ...

 

[72Tunaboat]

Have you thought about using a Glycol/Water mixture in your system?

 

[nate379]

I was actually more worried about the domestic water pipes then the boiler piping. I looked into it though and my concern was loosing efficiency with using the antifreeze, not to mention the cost.

 

[Friartuck]

Some more ideas. If you use the temp sensor control method for a light, it could also include powering a 110 volt relay to power heat wraps around the pipes in question (heat or domestic water). Having the monitor call you while TDY, you still have to contact someone local to investigate. Couldn't the monitor call the unit?? If the light method is used, said person whom you would normally call if a problem developed, couldn't they just do a drive by ever three days looking for the light??

 

[nate379]

Said person that I'd call normally has no reason to drive out to where I live other than just to visit. My place is about 100miles round trip for them. They check it once a week or so, but if the place started freezing on Monday and they only come by the next Sunday...

 

[Rentawrench]

Find a Full service oil co. they will offer the service ,BUT it will COST you ,cheaper than a Freeze out . OR you can Drain the house like you would if it was a summer camp for the winter season.

Remember a power outage will have the same results . So wire a disconnect box to the electric input to the heating system so you can run the heat with a small generator . you could also get a roomate to housesit while your gone .

 

[jklingel]

Nate: You've got a problem, for sure. My neighbor's place froze 2 winters ago (-20 and so on) because his set-up was not plugged in to alarm me! Human error. That said, if the power goes out, no thermostat is going to call anyone, unless it is hooked to a car battery in the corner somewhere. I'd give serious consideration to draining your domestic water completely, heat the house up well before you go, shutter windows, etc. I don't think there is an easy answer for you. Good luck w/ it.

 

[cncjerry]

Ok if no one is home would it not be cost effective to shut off the water and the boiler and drain all the lines? It would be cold for a few hours after you return to get the boiler running again, maybe I missed something but I always turn off the water main and shut off most of the power before we leave for a extended time.

 

[Teken]

Ok if no one is home would it not be cost effective to shut off the water and the boiler and drain all the lines? It would be cold for a few hours after you return to get the boiler running again, maybe I missed something but I always turn off the water main and shut off most of the power before we leave for a extended time.

I agree if you're away for weeks on end and can't rely on anyone dropping by on a regular bassis. I would simply follow what the above member has suggested. The inconvience of doing so, is out weighed by the potential damages and dollars incurred later on.

Unless I am totally off base, is there more information that is missing here that we all need to understand?

Regards

EVIL Teken . . .

 

[BirdRacer]

My neighbor is often gone as well (we are both military) and not on good terms with the other one.

Working to see if I can switch my cell number to a local one since my friends don't have local to me numbers either.

I didn't even know that my cell wasn't local until I was looking for it one day and tried calling.

As far as the local number, you might want to look into this:

Google Voice

You pick a local number, and it gets forwarded to whatever phone(s) you choose. Can forward to multiple numbers, etc.

More info

Lots of neat features. I love it. Oh, did I mention it's free? You'll just have to get an invite. I don't have any invites left, or I would offer you one.

 

[jklingel]

If you do shut off some of the electricity, don't do what I once did. I flipped the breaker on the wrong circuit, and shut off my kitchen; summer time. After a month, it was interesting. Have you ever seen mold sprouting 4" high in a freezer? The mix of ice cream, meat juice, etc, goo oozing around in a few spots was apparently quite nourishing for a few plants.

 

[nate379]

WAY too much work to blow out all the pipes and kill the heat.

I'd have to drain the boiler and blow out all the pex, blow out all the domestic water lines, put antifreeze in the P traps, washer and dishwasher. Also the curb valve is a real PITA to close.

I just leave it at 45*

It would take at least a day, maybe 2 to get the boiler filled back and the house back up to temp.

The 2nd unit I linked to says it calls when the juice goes out too.