October 2008 News Article from the Chicago Daily Herald.
Q. My wife and I go to Florida for the winter months of December through March. We turn off the water for the house and set the thermostat at 45 degrees. We have not had any problem with this as far as freeze-ups are concerned, but we wonder if this is the most efficient and cost-saving setting. (We have gas heat.) We would appreciate your expert advice.
A. You are doing the right thing. Readers have asked me whether they could turn the heat off completely to save on their energy bills, but I am not in favor of that, as cold temperatures can negatively affect furniture, some wall finishes and other personal possessions. I always favor leaving a modicum of heat in the house and have also suggested having a family member, friend or neighbor keep an eye on the house.
There are electronic devices that makes this easier; some alarms will dial one to three preset phone numbers when the temperature drops below 45, depending on the model. Low cost simple alarm systems warn those watching your house that the temperature has dropped below 45. They are set in a window, are visible from the street and flash red when the temperature inside the house gets below 45 (7 Celsius). But someone has to be watching for it. You can order an alarm by mail from Tip Temperature Products, 415 Kleim Blvd., Burlington, NJ, 08016 or by calling (800) 847-8367. You can also order it online at www.tiptemp.com. Enter "freeze" in their search engine. They have a variety of alarm systems in a broad price range.
Henri de Marne's column appears Sundays. He was a remodeling contractor in Washington, D.C., for many years, and is now a consultant. Write to him in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or via e-mail at henridemarne@gmavt.net.