Heard enough stories about frozen and bursting pipes? Want to make sure it doesn’t happen to you?

Everyone has a friend or relative with a frozen and burst pipe horror story, in an unattended home. Whether it’s the furnace dying, a prolonged power outage or other unforeseen situation the buildings temperatures drop to freezing, or below freezing levels and somewhere a pipe bursts. Depending on the length of time the building is unoccupied for this can quickly lead to devastating consequences, as the water will not stop flowing.

Fortunately there are a wide variety of solutions to prevent these events, and many insurance companies are offering substantial discounts to homeowners who install one or more of these systems. According to a study by NationWide and Allied insurance companies the average frozen pipe insurance claim tops $10,000.00!

What is a Freeze Alarm?

A freeze alarm is any device that will monitor temperature levels and alert you (or others) when the temperature goes outside of your ‘safe’ range. There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing the right freeze alarm for your situation:

• Do you need to able to adjust the temperature set points? Some models come with the temperature alarm preset to 45F, and are not adjustable.
• How do you want to be alerted? You can choose e-mail, text message, phone call or a variety.
• Do you have a phone line available at the location? If you don’t, you’ll want to look at the cellular or internet based options.

So, which Freeze Alarm is best for you?

The following are the most popular systems for the described situations.

YOU HAVE A PHONE LINE

You have a phone line, and 45F is the PERFECT low temperature setting, you will never need to change it.

Recommended Product: Freeze Alarm HOMESITTER-700

You have a phone line, but want to able to change and adjust your temperature alarm points.

Recommended Product: Intermediate Freeze Alarm

You have a phone line want to able to change and adjust your temperature alarm point AND think that you might like to add water sensors, motion sensors etc. to the system someday.

Recommended Product: Sensaphone FGD-400

YOU DON’T HAVE A PHONE LINE, AND DON’T WANT ONE.

You’d still like to receive the alerts via phone call though.

Recommended Product: Freeze Alarm HS-500

You have WiFi at the location and would like to receive text message and/or email alerts.

Recommended Product: TempSpot