Best Options for Remote Home Temperature Monitoring During Long Vacations

[DonTom]

It was on sale at Lowes for $27 so I should have known they had problems

Which model? Was it Wi-fi capable? Mine cost more than a hundred bucks each, but all were purchased more than ten years ago.

But I never had even the slightest issue of any type with any of my three HoneyWells. Not counting the new five wire cable I had to change from 4-wires at one house, I had them all working within around ten minutes each.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Compadre1]

I use a Govee system. Pretty cheap, somewhere around $50. Consists of a unit that plugs into a receptacle and connects with home wifi. It has 3 small sensors that communicate with it. I leave 2 on the floor around the house and one in the basement. Extra sensors can be bought. I can read temps on my phone from anywhere. The floor sensors work off batteries so be sure to change them yearly although they'd likely last longer.

 

[TheBar]

Which model? Was it Wi-fi capable? Mine cost more than a hundred bucks each, but all were purchased more than ten years ago.

But I never had even the slightest issue of any type with any of my three HoneyWells. Not counting the new five wire cable I had to change from 4-wires at one house, I had them all working within around ten minutes each.

-Don- Auburn, CA

This was 10+ years ago and I don't remember the model. It was originally around $75 as I remember. It did not have wifi.

If I have a thermostat with the ability to turn on either the heat or A/C within a temperature range I don't need wifi. If the temperature is out of range either the thermostat or the A/C or heat is broken.

I use an old iPhone that can keep an eye and ear inside the house including reading a thermometer, hear the smoke alarm, or windows breaking. It will send me a text and email over the internet or cell.

 

[poohbear]

Not the Honeywell Wi-Fi ones. They run off the 24 VAC transformer in the furnace and rectify it to DC inside the thermostat at the needed voltage to run the thermostat. No room inside them for any batteries.

-Don- Auburn, CA

You sure there isn't a slot for a CR2022 battery ? Ive put in 1 or 2 in my life and all had either the AAA, AA, or CR2022 slot. But like I said I much preferred to run a new 5 or 8 wire thermostat wire to power the stat .
Some of the pricier ones you could just split the unit in two putting the display & control buttons on the wall & use 2 wires and put the brains by the furnace

 

[DonTom]

You sure there isn't a slot for a CR2022 battery ?

I don't think so, but it has been more than ten years since I have opened one, so I cannot be sure.

I don't see what a battery will be good for in one of these thermostats. The display is always lit, has to control a lot of 24 VAC stuff, has Wi-Fi, etc. That would be a lot for a small 3V battery to run.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[climberbob]

I went ahead and I bought a

Sensforge 2.5K Indoor Pan-Tilt Dome Security Camera, AI Human & Pet Detection, 360° Coverage, Two-Way Audio, Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4G/5G), 64GB SD Card Included, No Monthly Fees (1, White) so fire it works great. It was easy to set up. It's only on Wi-Fi. No extra cost per month. Then I put a 8-in thermostat in front of it. Thanks for all the replies​

 

[DonTom]

It's only on Wi-Fi.

Do you know how to set up your router "Port Forwarding" so you can view it on the web from anywhere?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[mrschwarz]

I have a device called a Tempstick (Temp Stick). All it needs is wifi. It has extensive reporting and you can set alarms for whatever is needed. I have used them for an unoccupied home, freezers that might lose power and other applications. Once you buy it, the extensive reporting is included for the original price.

 

[BillyThib]

I'm looking to monitor the temperature inside my house when I'm on Long vacations. Does anybody have any suggestions that would work for that?

We use the MOCREO hub and sensors. At home we monitor temperatures in the house, garage, water well shed, all freezers and refrigerators and water on the floor of the water well shed in case it springs a leak. In our RV we monitor water tank compartment and inside temperatures.

Alarms are set for all conditions that we want to be aware of, communicates with Bluetooth and connects to the web over WiFi. We check the home devices every morning and the motorhome devices when it’s at the shop. I.e.: We are home in Louisiana and our RV is at Suncoast Designs in Florida for some glass work. Even though our Starlink is paused, the 1Mb up/down you get while paused sends us live data.

We purchased everything on Amazon and there is no monthly fees. It’s a win/win. We have been using this setup for about three years.

Other things monitored: We use a Droplet monitor on our incoming water line which monitors water flow and alerts in case of abnormal water usage.

All security cameras through a WAN connected NVR.

Our Sensi HVAC thermostat can be controlled and monitored over WiFi.

We don’t have a smart home but instead a few smart devices that affords us peace of mind.

 

[DonTom]

I have used them for an unoccupied home, freezers that might lose power

What I do is put a cup of water in the freezer until it turns to ice. Then, I put a penny on top of the ice.

If the penny is not on top of the ice after a long time away, it means throw all the food away.

BTW, it has been more than two months since I have been to my Reno house. I am staying here in Auburn, CA until the giant storm passes. Many feet of new snow falling at the summit right now. I-80 east is now closed to trucks and could close to all traffic any minute.

Summit WX here.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[JackieW-iRV2]

I'm looking to monitor the temperature inside my house when I'm on Long vacations. Does anybody have any suggestions that would work for that?

Our house thermostat is tied into our security system so I always adjust my temperature on my phone. It’s extremely easy and convenient to monitor everything from my that way.