Closing home for summer-choices
 

We use a home watch company, and they do whatever we instruct, within reason of course, but everyone seems to prefer different procedures.

Friend of mine says they add a fair amount of white vinegar (2-4 cups) to each toilet and close the lid, everything fine when they return. Here, they have the home watch co. turn on the water and clean the toilets monthly. Does anyone do the vinegar thing here and just leave them alone all summer?

Also, we have 2 refrigerators (one in the laundry room) and plan to empty one and turn off, leave the other on low with condiments, staples like flour, etc. and whatever leftover beer/drinks we don't have room for in our car. Do you prefer to leave the doors closed or open on the turned-off one? I have seen posts advising both.

My husband will be more than happy to help you with the leftover beer. He prefers imported but will drink most anything available, in moderation of course.

I would also love to help you with any leftover beer you may have in the fridge :)

Seriously, when we leave to go back to CT, we basically turn the water off in the house. Keep the electric cart on a Battery Minder, set the humidistat for 60% which will prevent mold and keep the AC costs down low, turn the ice maker off, and secure all the outside and lanai furniture by placing them in the garage.

The house stays empty for 6-8 weeks at the most before we are back so we don't prep the toilets, sinks, etc. We keep the fridge at the same temp figuring that there it will not run as much cause the fridge is closed for that period of time.

Definitely leave doors open on fridge that is turned off. Otherwise, you get a musty smell.

Strangely different toilets even in the same house have different amounts of sediment. You can leave some with vinegar or bleach in the bowl and all will be well. For others, you'll still have some serious rings. Your home watch people should have some idea of what is needed for your toilets.

I see 60% on humidistat. What temperature on a/c?
Thanks.

I set the AC at 78-80 degrees, but with the humidistat on, it takes over and monitors the humidity in the home. The humidistat disables the thermostat. The temperature in the house can go over 85 degrees but as long as the humidity levels are in check, you minimize the chances of mold.

I had Munn's install the humidistat. It was a couple of years ago and the price was around $150. You can see a payback to your investment within a year in the savings on your electric bill by not having the AC running to cool an empty house.

Munns technician told me to set the humidistat and thermostat both on 80 degrees.

Putting gallon jugs of water in the freezer will cause the fridge to run less.

I always leave my refrigerators on , I used to turn them off, but then one time after sitting all winter it would not restart, I think had I left it on it would still be running. Something about the seals need to be 'internally oiled' frequently.

Got 3 different answers from Sun Kool. The last guy (who seemed very knowledgeable) said temp 85, humidity 60. We have wood floors and the 85 scares me a little.

Before we got the humidistat (not sure it was worth it) we always set ac to 81. Never had a problem.

Excuse my ignorance, what purpose does a humidistat serve? Have you noticed a difference in comfort or cost? Thanks

I wouldn't be scared for the wood floors. Wood floors have been around long before air-conditioning, even in the south.

If you live fulltime in The Villages, you probably don't need a humidistat. If your home will remain unoccupied for a number of weeks or months, then you should consider a humidistat.

A humidistat monitors the humidity levels inside your house and will turn your AC on when the humidity level reaches a pre-set level (say 60%). High humidity will lead to mold a possibility of mold growing in your home.

You can just set the AC to a higher level than you normally set it when you are not at home and it will do basically the same thing, turning on to recirculate the air in your home and keep the humidity low enough to minimize mold build up, but it will most likely cost you more on your electric bill each month.

Having a humidistat, will run your AC less frequently to maintain a low humidity level and you will probably see a payback in your investment within a year in savings due to lower electric bills.

Doesn't it matter if the humidistat is installed inline or parallel? One way as I understand it makes the humidistat totally override the thermostat the other way it goes on if it reaches high humidity or high temp... At least that is what I was told. We put ours inline so it overrides or at least I think we did. Redwitch would know if it is working or not as we aren't there now and she is the goddess looking after things.

I also turn off the breaker to our our hot water tank. I drain the hot water and replace it with the new water which will not be heated. Cuts out the possible rotten egg smell when you return and start using the water.