Quote:
Originally Posted by Major
You may want to consider employing technology. The issue with a once a week check-in is that a serious problem can fester for nearly a week. Back in the day (about 10-12 years ago) I conducted weekly check-ins on my neighbor's home. During one check-in, I found the basement flooded with about a foot of water. The furnace had shut off, but thankfully the pipes did not freeze.
You can update your thermostats so that heat is controlled by your phone. This is the best way to make sure you have heat. Also, you can employ cameras in the basement or anywhere else to detect water leakage. These approaches are much more reliable and provide immediate feedback.
|
They are only as reliable as your electricity. If you're in an area that loses electricity often and you don't have back up, then your electronics are useless. Last season I lost electricity for a whole week. Luckily it wasn't during a cold snap, so nothing froze.
If you're gone for the winter, the best thing to do is shut it down and winterize. Even if you have someone checking it, it can freeze up pretty quickly in a cold snap. It's happened to me at two homes in the past where I was checking on them once a week.