I have a couple of friends that have second homes in the southern part of the country. They all share a major concern: Is there a way to keep an eye on my home in Minnesota while I’m away?
The answer to this could be as simple as installing basic security sensors, such as low temperature detectors or fire sensors. Personally, my biggest concern about being away from home for an extended time is freezing temperatures. This could lead to countless potential problems.
Homeowners will typically drop their thermostat setting to about 50 degrees while they’re away. This is good for both your pocket book and furnace. However, when it gets brutally cold outside and your furnace is turned down to save energy and money, the home is that much closer to reaching below-freezing temperatures that could cause serious damage.
If your home reaches freezing temperatures, water pipes could burst, causing serious damage, and different things in the home could be damaged from the freeze/thaw cycle. I explained to my friends that installing a low temperature sensor as a part of a monitored alarm system can help them to worry less about their vacant home and enjoy their time away from the cold more.
Fire protection is another valuable security sensor for snowbirds to utilize. These devices will notify the monitoring center quickly if a problem occurs and potentially save homes and belongings.
And finally, intrusion protection is one thing that I can’t stress enough for those who are away from their homes for an extended period of time, especially for those who have a home in a snowy climate. When we have snow on the ground and a home is vacant, there will be no foot prints or tire tracks around the property; it doesn’t take much time to realize the home is unoccupied. However, having a security system, and the presence of security signs and stickers, will help to deter potential burglars.
There are also some simple preventative tips to follow if you’re leaving your home unoccupied over the winter:
- Shut off the water supply. This will ensure that there won’t be any leaks throughout the home while it’s unoccupied.
- Leave all the interior doors throughout the home open for good air circulation. This will help eliminate “cold spots” which may occur when rooms and cabinets with water pipes stay closed. Leaving the doors open throughout the home will also help for early smoke detection by not trapping it in the source room.
If you have a security system, please notify the monitoring center that you will be leaving for an extended period of time, and no one will be staying in the home. Give them your alternate contact information. This ensures the dispatching procedure will go much more efficiently. By taking a few extra precautions before leaving for the winter, you can have a very relaxing time in the warm weather.
Additionally, you should always check your alarm system for functionality before leaving, or contact us at 763.477.3664, toll free at (800) 943-2667 or email us at servicetech@wh-security.com to schedule a service technician to check it out for you.