What To Do With the Sticks & Bricks

[Bipeflier]

Looking at trying Snowbirding for the first time later this winter.

DW worries about the house here in Mid-Missouri. Our Daughter lives near so she could check up every few days but tell me what is wrong with my plan.

I would shut the water off,
drain water heater and pipes (JIK),
set the heat to about 50 degrees F,
take food from frig with us,
leave a "night light",
Stop the mail,
lock up and leave.

What am I missing?

[almcc]

Padlin wrote:
I like the idea of some sort of internet monitoring, unfortunately every time we get a storm the internet (DSL) gets glitched and I need to reset the modem. I'm taking it that none of you folks have this issue?

I don't have that problem with our DSL modem. I installed a small UPS unit to the modem, web enabled thermostat,router and to the VOIP phone.

If the power goes down, I get about a half hour of service out of the UPS before the batteries die, this takes care of most short power blips. The other thing it does for me is that I can look at the temperatures remotely through the monitoring service, it gives me a minute-by-minute read out of the temps, if the furnace is calling for heat and the house temp is not increasing (because of no power to the furnace) then I know there is a power failure, and if I get no readings after a half hour or so, it's a longer power failure.

Even if the DSL modem shuts down because the power fails, it reboots properly each time once the power is restored. I would talk to your provider and ask why you are having the problem with the equipment.

[John_Joey]

Padlin wrote:
I like the idea of some sort of internet monitoring, unfortunately every time we get a storm the internet (DSL) gets glitched and I need to reset the modem. I'm taking it that none of you folks have this issue?

Same issue, what I did was put the modem on a timer. For 5 minutes every day it shuts off then back on for the rest of the 24 hours. Works like a charm.

Worst case is you'll get a glitch shortly after the power off and you'll be off line until the next power off. For me, that isn't a show stopper.

[Padlin]

I like the idea of some sort of internet monitoring, unfortunately every time we get a storm the internet (DSL) gets glitched and I need to reset the modem. I'm taking it that none of you folks have this issue?

[camperguy99]

I save some by putting the phone and internet on suspension.
Less than half normal monthly charge.

[Me_Again]

Bipeflier wrote:
Thanks for all of the replies so far.

Hadn't considered the internet camera, great idea.

We are only looking at a couple of months or so to start so I don't foresee issues with insurance, etc.

We just don't want to have an "Oh $hit" moment when we get a thousand miles from home. LOL

We had a camera in our S&B before we sold it. I could pan down and look at a digital temp gauge I place below it and see the temperature in the house. Chris

[hokeypokey]

Padlin wrote:
Your list covers everything I did last year, only issue was our local post office folks are pretty bad, took almost 2 weeks after the date I asked for mail forwarding before it actually took place. Good thing my son stopped by the house and picked it up every few days till it stopped. It was supposed to go to his house cross town.

Going to start the forward 2 weeks before we leave this year, which reminds me, that's next week.

Add: Changed all bills that can use autopay to autopay, stopped by the town hall and prepaid any bills from them that come in. Had the oil tanks filled. Put a bunch of cash in the checking for autopay.

Local post office people have nothing to do with forwarding mail these days. it's completely out of their hands and handled by a forwarding office. Depending on management at Forwarding, they can be good . . . or horrible. All local PO ppl do is have you fill out a forwarding card, then turn it in to Forwarding, wherever that may be. We have good luck and no problems so we are fortunate.

[Community Alumni]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
We have our house professionally winterized, simply because we live in the boondocks and losing power is a possibility (and we've seen temps hit 20-below). We leave the furnace on 50; and I can monitor the interior and exterior temps via an internet-connected weather station. I also bought a housekey lock-box (like Realtors use) - so if I wanted my kids to check on something (like the weather station no longer reports) - they can get in.

Just curious, why not just give the kids keys (that's what we did) instead of a lockbox?

... Eric

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

We have our house professionally winterized, simply because we live in the boondocks and losing power is a possibility (and we've seen temps hit 20-below). We leave the furnace on 50; and I can monitor the interior and exterior temps via an internet-connected weather station. I also bought a housekey lock-box (like Realtors use) - so if I wanted my kids to check on something (like the weather station no longer reports) - they can get in.

[Padlin]

Your list covers everything I did last year, only issue was our local post office folks are pretty bad, took almost 2 weeks after the date I asked for mail forwarding before it actually took place. Good thing my son stopped by the house and picked it up every few days till it stopped. It was supposed to go to his house cross town.

Going to start the forward 2 weeks before we leave this year, which reminds me, that's next week.

Add: Changed all bills that can use autopay to autopay, stopped by the town hall and prepaid any bills from them that come in. Had the oil tanks filled. Put a bunch of cash in the checking for autopay.

[Vette_Racer]

As a just in case should the heat fail we always put antifreeze in the dish washer, washing machine, sink/shower/tub p traps, toilets.
I turn on the two machines after putting the antifreeze in (after water is off)and run them through a empty the water process to get the antifreeze into the pumps.

[Community Alumni]

Bipeflier wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

Bipeflier wrote:


DW worries about the house here in Mid-Missouri.

.....Stop the mail,lock up and leave.

What am I missing?

Your wife who's staying behind. 🙂 Have a great trip!!

Maybe the best option yet! LOL:B

Wouldn't work for me! My wife drives all the way, I just steer! :E

[Bipeflier]

2gypsies wrote:

Bipeflier wrote:


DW worries about the house here in Mid-Missouri.

.....Stop the mail,lock up and leave.

What am I missing?

Your wife who's staying behind. 🙂 Have a great trip!!

Maybe the best option yet! LOL:B

[2gypsies1]

Bipeflier wrote:


DW worries about the house here in Mid-Missouri.

.....Stop the mail,lock up and leave.

What am I missing?

Your wife who's staying behind. 🙂 Have a great trip!!

[bighatnohorse]

Cover outside faucets if your area experiences freezing weather.