Helppppppppp!!!

Stonewall · Jan 3, 2003

Sounds like you have three ways to go here. 1- don't put the renters in there anymore and once you shut down the cabin it stays shut down. 2- Get a property manager or just a handy man to look after the place for you. 3- put in some electric base board heaters to take over if the gas unit fails again. You can put in all the temperature limit devices you want but you'll still have water in the water heater and the toilet tanks which will freeze and when it warms up again you still have a problem. I would plan for the charges for the Handy man and up the rent to cover it.

JATO_RaT · Jan 4, 2003

Thanks for all the suggestions. After the problem happened, I started searching the web for various automation products. One product would call any number or up to 4 different numbers and give a prerecorded message such as " the temperature at your cabin is now 35 degrees" The message can be from many styles of sensors such as a smoke alarm or water alarm.

I will probably consider this as option 1. Our heater is a non electric floor furnace. The pilot generator creates enough power to maintain the pilot light valve open, open the main gas valve and run a thermostat. This is the first time we have lost the pilot light at a critical time. I would like to investigate a "electric match" or "electronic ignition". Being able to shut off the water was perhaps more of a knee jerk reaction although it still seems like a plausible thing to do via a motorized valve. We frequent the cabin throughout the winter and while turning away the renters is something we have thought about, it doesn't solve the problem of others in the family using it and understanding the mechanics of turning on/off supply & drain valves. For now, I will get a automated monitor, I found it here <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.smarthome.com/7005.html>http://www.smarthome.com/7005.html</A>

Thanks for the advice everyone, Rat...

JohnMiller3 · Jan 4, 2003

<font color=blue>...and give a prerecorded message such as " the temperature at your cabin is now 35 degrees" ...</font color=blue>

How about a reversal... where you call back your camp and use an X10 remote type of device to restart the furnace...

...or solve the problem once and for all... and get the darn thing fixed... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

JATO_RaT · Jan 4, 2003

John, I did fix the furnace, (it's only 2 years old), its the first thing I did. It's just one of those things, when a pilot generator goes out, it just goes out, no advanced warning. This furnace is super simple, no fan, not much different then the way a water heater works. You depress a pilot light bypass to light the pilot and hold it for a minute. Runs on natural gas and requires no electricity. Heres a better site for info on what I found - - - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sensaphone.com/>http://www.sensaphone.com/</A> /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gifRaT/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jan 5, 2003

I have used the model 1108 Sensaphone in the past. Worked very well.! I don't know if this model exist anymore, but it is still being used here. Good product. George

heehaw · Jan 6, 2003

how about a source for the 12 volt solenoids?? the rainbird 24v ac, not dc, units is all i have been able to locate.
heehaw

Wingnut · Jan 7, 2003

I would assume that they'd be available at any plumbing place that sold hrdronic heating equipment .... I bought the last 2 I used (no longer have hydronic heat, darn it) at Eagle Hardware before they folded their tents in Alberta. I'm pretty sure the box says Asco ... but I'll take a peek tonight when I get home ...