Seven Things You Can Do With a Freeze Alarm
Installing a temperature sensor alarm (also called a freeze alarm) is a good way to protect your vacation home from temperatures that are too high or too low, but did you know that some freeze alarms can do a lot more than just monitor temperatures? Some functions require the addition of a simple accessory like a sensor, while others are conveniently built right in.
If you want to protect your vacation home or primary residence, or even your RV or boat, here’s what a multi-functional freeze alarm (like the “Deluxe” model by Control Products) can do for you:
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If you like the idea of opening the door to a pre-heated or pre-cooled vacation house when you arrive, then you are definitely a candidate for a remote thermostat! There are many types of remote thermostats on the market today — some can be controlled by simply calling the telephone number at your vacation house and others which are Internet-enabled can be controlled from your PC or smart phone. Here are five good reasons why a remote thermostat should be the next upgrade to your vacation home:
1. Allows remote temperature control from anywhere
With a remote thermostat, you have the ability to adjust the temperature in your vacation house before you get there from virtually anywhere. If you are a skier with a winter retreat, imagine the comfort and convenience of arriving to a warm cabin versus having to wait hours for the bone-chilling cold to subside? In warmer climates, a remote thermostat gives you the ability to pre-cool a vacation home that is equipped with central air conditioning.
2. Saves on energy
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Loss of heat, power outages, isolation, hypothermia and dehydration are serious concerns for seniors during the winter, so we’ve put together some practical home safety tips to help them prepare for the long, cold months ahead.
“Fuel up” – Have the furnace checked by a HVAC professional and get the chimney and flue cleaned. Early in the season, schedule a delivery of home heating oil or propane and monitor fuel levels as winter progresses. When levels fall below a quarter of tank, schedule a fuel delivery. Financially-strapped seniors may be eligible for state aid to purchase heating fuel. Go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website for information on state and utility-funded energy programs.
Get an alternative source of heat – Power outages can last for days in the winter so it’s imperative that seniors have an alternative (non-electric) source of heat, such as a wood stove, kerosene heater or efficient wood-burning fireplace. Always have an adequate supply of seasoned wood or kerosene fuel on-hand. Remember that deadly carbon monoxide fumes are emitted when burning wood and kerosene, so make sure the area is properly ventilated and a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector is installed nearby. Better yet, consider installing a multi-function monitoring system with an auto-dialer, like the Sensaphone 400, that automatically sends telephone alerts to family or friends if there is a smoke or toxic gas emergency.
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Are you thinking of investing in a freeze alarm to protect your vacation home or primary residence from damage caused by frozen pipes, but you don’t know what features to look for? The good news is that there are many affordable freeze alarms priced at less than $100 that do basic temperature monitoring. If the temperature in your home gets dangerously low, these freeze alarms will alert you by phone of the emergency condition. For slightly more money, you can upgrade to a more sophisticated freeze alarm with additional features and functions.
How to choose? Which features are important? This checklist to help you decide:
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If you’re looking for some original gift ideas, look no further. Here’s a list of clever and useful DIY gifts that are all priced at under $100!
Gifts Under $50
Washing Machine Shutoff Hoses by FloodSafe – This is a simple, non-mechanical solution to protect against the catastrophic water damage caused by broken, brittle washing machine hoses. When the FloodSafe washing machine connector hose detects an excess flow of water, the flow of water is automatically turned off. Needs no electricity, batteries or other power source. Every washing machine owner on your list will appreciate a set of FloodSafe hoses. On sale now for $21.99.
YardGard Alarm for Gates, Windows and Doors – If you’re looking for a unique gift for parents of young children, give them a YardGard Alarm so they can monitor unsupervised children or trespassers coming and going into their yard, pool area, house or potentially dangerous areas. The alarm alert sounds an extra loud 120 dB siren. Kit includes hardware for mounting on gates, doors and windows. Special holiday sale price is only $35.99.
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The holidays are here again and everyone is looking for unique gift ideas. Here’s a list of gift suggestions that that are original, useful and affordable – and sure to bring a smile to those special people on your shopping list.
For Grandparents and Seniors
Amplified Alarm Clock with Wireless Vibrating Pad & Telephone Signaler – Do you know someone who is hard-of-hearing or hard to wake up, or both? This extra loud alarm clock wakes deep sleepers with a loud 90dB signal and/or vibration. The Amplicom TCL 200 Digital Alarm Clock can also signal incoming phone calls. Now offered for $73.00.
Wireless Motion Detector – No one wants to be surprised by strangers at the door. With this wireless passive infrared sensor, grandma can monitor an entrance, walkway or other covered location up to 600 feet away and be warned when a person or vehicle approaches. The Dakota Alert IRWR-3000 Wireless PIR is sold as a kit for $149.99. Extra sensors can be added.
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Eliminating the landline phone in your vacation house is a great way to save money. But having no landline phone poses a problem if you want to use a home freeze alarm to protect against frozen pipes since freeze alarms communicate by phone. Although there is no standalone “cellular freeze alarm” on the market, there is a simple way for you to connect two off-the-shelf products that combine to make a home freeze alarm that communicates via a cellular signal.
Start with a Cellular Terminal
A fixed cellular terminal is a device that provides a cellular connection and generates a dial tone. Once you have a dial tone, you can hook up any auto-dialer device like a burglar alarm, remote monitoring system or in this case, a home freeze alarm.
To choose the best cellular terminal for your vacation house, you will need to consider:
(1) Which cellular service providers (or carriers) provide coverage where your home is located, and;
(2) Which cellular carrier you use for your personal cell phone.
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Are you thinking of investing in a freeze alarm to protect your vacation home or primary residence from damage caused by frozen pipes, but you don’t know what features to look for? The good news is that there are many affordable freeze alarms priced at less than $100 that do basic temperature monitoring. If the temperature in your home gets dangerously low, these freeze alarms will alert you by phone of the emergency condition. For slightly more money, you can upgrade to a more sophisticated freeze alarm with additional features and functions.
How to choose? Which features are important? This checklist to help you decide:
Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re a snowbird who will be heading south soon to escape the cold winter months, here’s a list of steps you can follow to winterize your home and protect your property before you go. Investing the extra time to properly prepare and secure your home before you depart will free you from the worries of leaving an empty house and minimize costly repair bills.
Yard – Clean gutters to prevent ice dams and allow melting snow to drain away from the house (and not into the basement); trim tree branches located near the home and power lines; arrange for a snowplow service to plow driveway and shovel walkway so your home looks occupied after major snowstorms. Read the rest of this entry »
Violent summer thunderstorms can strike at any time, resulting in a power failure that can last for hours. But if you are at work or traveling, how will you know if your pet is stranded at home with no air conditioning and at risk of heat stroke? Pets are equally vulnerable in the wintertime when icy storms can cause a power failure, leaving them shivering in an unheated house for hours until you get home.
There are a number of strategies concerned pet owners can use to be alerted of power failures in their home. Here are a few suggestions:
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