Beachcomber wrote:
On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:12:10 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

turn off the main water valve, turn the heat control to vacation, and
put in a thermostatically controlled low temperature switch that will
flash a light if temperature gets too low.

do know that vacant homes tend to have bad things happen arson,
break ins etc. you might have a security system installed to protect
the home and contents like tools etc.

also be aware homeowners doesnt usually cover a long term vacant home,
but if you tell your insurer homeowners will sky rocket in price. dont
tell them and arson occurs they may not pay.

might be worth it to offer home to friends to live there real cheap
till your ready to sell. provides built in security and activity.


You probably don't want to let your house go below freezing. 45F is a
good setpoint for your thermostat. Go ahead and drain the pipes and
put the antifreeze in the traps if you want extra assurance.

Bad things can happen to your house (other than frozen pipes) if you
let everything freeze up. Concrete can crack, walls can shift,
foundations can become troublesome, and you can have standing water
freezing up that you may not even know about. It's just not worth it
in a cold climate.

If it were me personally, I would keep the water on inside the house
and keep the water heater on but turned down as low as it will go.
Relighting the pilot light can be a challenge to someone who hasn't
done it before. Shut off (and drain, if possible) your outside
bibcocks and your washing machine supply valves.

Finally, if you can't get a neighbor to check the home every day, you
might want to get one of those electronic monitors/low temp alerts
that work with a phone line.

Beachcomber

I hadn't planned on not heating the house (sorry, I guess it could have
been interpreted that way), just turning the heat down. My concern would
be if the furnace suddenly died, although even then it "probably"
wouldn't get too cold too fast since it's an older brick row house,
which seem to keep warmer. (I once lived in an inside row house and
barely turned the heat on, because my two neighbors kept their homes so
warm). I'm moving about 1/2 hr away and will probably get over there at
least once a week, since it's on the way to a class that I take. If we
suddenly had a frigid snap, I could get over more often (I'd grumble,
but I could get there).

As for neighbors, nah, that's one of the reasons I'm moving. I really
don't know anyone here any more. Any info on the electronic monitors
(and would one also monitor for water)? I'd have to leave the phone on,
but for the peace of mind, that'd be worth it.

BTW re insurance, the insurance co knows I'm moving, because I'm getting
the policy on my new house from them. I also have a policy on my
parents' house that I inherited; it's been empty for a year and a half
(knock on wood, finally settling this week!) and the same company
covered that with no questions. With this one, I plan on having
renovations done in Jan/Feb and then listing it, so hopefully they won't
consider it too vacant.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.