View Full Version : A question for snowbirds
Colts Fan
09-15-2014, 07:21 PM
We will be moving to TV late this year, and don't expect our house will be sold before then. We are moving from Indianapolis, a cold weather winter location. What is a good temperature to set on the thermostat for the winter, while we are not there? Thanks.
PR1234
09-15-2014, 07:56 PM
We keep our house in MI at 50 degrees for the winter. A home check gal looks in on it once a week to make sure all is ok. Going on 7-8 yrs?
dewilson58
09-15-2014, 07:57 PM
I dew 55
philnpat
09-15-2014, 08:04 PM
50 degrees is fine ... my neighbor back home has a device in his northern home that contacts him by phone if there is a power outage, if the temp drops below 45 degrees of if water is running.
redwitch
09-15-2014, 08:20 PM
55 is the recommended temp, but 50 is just fine. However, if you happen to have a manufactured home (I know, not in your case since you purchased in Hillsborough), definitely 55.
bluedog103
09-15-2014, 08:37 PM
I have an alarm on my NY house which calls three numbers in the event of a power failure, low temp (45 degrees or lower) or water in basement. I have it call my plumber, who is a good friend and has a key to my house, my daughter and me. I mounted the unit inside the house but on an outside wall. The first year I set my thermostat at 50. Early one bitterly cold morning my alarm went off. My plumber and my daughter drove to our house and found nothing wrong with my boiler. It seems that the way my alarm is mounted on an outside wall that the 50 degree thermostat setting was too low. They moved it up to 55 and I haven't had a false alarm problem in the 4 years since then. Last winter the alarm went off but I actually had a problem with my boiler. Again my trusty plumber responded and repaired the defect with the boiler. That alarm, which cost me about $100 online, was worth every penny I paid for it.
rjm1cc
09-15-2014, 08:54 PM
I would go 55 if you have no areas where pipes could freeze. Basement, pipes in outside walls etc.
Turn off water. Open inside and outside faucets.
Drain hot water tank and turn off.
Flush toilets.
Bonanza
09-15-2014, 09:02 PM
I assume your house is listed for sale with a Realtor. Make sure you put signs in your bathrooms that there is no water. Tape the toilet seats so they can't be opened. You don't want to take the chance of having someone use the bathroom and not be able to flush!
DonH57
09-15-2014, 09:07 PM
50 degrees is fine ... my neighbor back home has a device in his northern home that contacts him by phone if there is a power outage, if the temp drops below 45 degrees of if water is running.
We used one of those I bought on Amazon. If I got an alarm I could call our realtor to check things out. Luckily only had to use it once.
Miles42
09-15-2014, 10:04 PM
We moved to Hillsborough from Fishers in August. When we used to come to Florida in the winter months we kept the house at 55. Never had a problem.
PR1234
09-16-2014, 05:19 AM
We also have a whole house generator that kicks in if we lose power.
Bay Kid
09-16-2014, 06:18 AM
I have an alarm on my NY house which calls three numbers in the event of a power failure, low temp (45 degrees or lower) or water in basement. I have it call my plumber, who is a good friend and has a key to my house, my daughter and me. I mounted the unit inside the house but on an outside wall. The first year I set my thermostat at 50. Early one bitterly cold morning my alarm went off. My plumber and my daughter drove to our house and found nothing wrong with my boiler. It seems that the way my alarm is mounted on an outside wall that the 50 degree thermostat setting was too low. They moved it up to 55 and I haven't had a false alarm problem in the 4 years since then. Last winter the alarm went off but I actually had a problem with my boiler. Again my trusty plumber responded and repaired the defect with the boiler. That alarm, which cost me about $100 online, was worth every penny I paid for it.
What type of alarm do you have, what is it called? I would like one to monitor for any water leaks. Thanks
TNLAKEPANDA
09-16-2014, 07:12 AM
I agree 50 to 55 degrees is best. We keep ours at 55 and if your house is well insulated it is not likely to drop below 50 inside unless there is an extended cold snap.
elbear
09-16-2014, 08:18 AM
We will be moving to TV late this year, and don't expect our house will be sold before then. We are moving from Indianapolis, a cold weather winter location. What is a good temperature to set on the thermostat for the winter, while we are not there? Thanks.
We ran a resort with a lot of cottages to get ready for winter. Those with the power left on was set at 55 but only in the basement or crawl space where the pipes are. All water upstairs was turned off and we put anti-freeze in the toilet and drains. In 20 years (Canada) we had no problem. Protect the foundation and pipes.
bluedog103
09-16-2014, 08:29 AM
What type of alarm do you have, what is it called? I would like one to monitor for any water leaks. Thanks
My alarm is called Reliance Controls THP201 Automatic Phone Out Alarm with 3 Functions. It is available on Amazon for $87.99 with free shipping. I think this price is a few bucks less than I paid a few years ago.
CFrance
09-16-2014, 08:46 AM
My alarm is called Reliance Controls THP201 Automatic Phone Out Alarm with 3 Functions. It is available on Amazon for $87.99 with free shipping. I think this price is a few bucks less than I paid a few years ago.
Just curious... do you need to have internet on in your home for this device to work?
upstate
09-16-2014, 08:51 AM
We keep ours at 55 and leave the vanity and under sink door open to the kitchen and bathroom sink that faces an exterior wall. We have a standby generator and a neighbor who does a weekly check.
bluedog103
09-16-2014, 09:06 AM
Just curious... do you need to have internet on in your home for this device to work?
Internet is not needed. You do have to plug a phone line into the unit. Also, with the water monitor, you have to run a line (the wire is included) from the monitor to just above the basement floor. I ran the line down to the utility area of the basement near the boiler and laundry room. I mounted the monitor on a bedroom wall directly above the utility room. I have a hardwired phone in the bedroom so I ran a line from the phone jack to the monitor.
karostay
09-16-2014, 09:15 AM
We will be moving to TV late this year, and don't expect our house will be sold before then. We are moving from Indianapolis, a cold weather winter location. What is a good temperature to set on the thermostat for the winter, while we are not there? Thanks.
Have reputable plumber come in and winterize your home if it's going to be vacant for the entire winter then you won't have to worry about a freeze up.
Then have the same plumber open it before returning. I do this each year with out any issues.
asianthree
09-16-2014, 07:47 PM
Keep it at 55, with a home watch person
Bay Kid
09-17-2014, 06:38 AM
My alarm is called Reliance Controls THP201 Automatic Phone Out Alarm with 3 Functions. It is available on Amazon for $87.99 with free shipping. I think this price is a few bucks less than I paid a few years ago.
I will check this out. Thank you
NIPAS K-9
09-17-2014, 12:15 PM
We will be moving to TV late this year, and don't expect our house will be sold before then. We are moving from Indianapolis, a cold weather winter location. What is a good temperature to set on the thermostat for the winter, while we are not there? Thanks.
I would do 55, so if the power goes out for some time, the higher it is the longer before it hits 32 and pipes freeze.
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