The inevitable battery operated thermostat.

Every year in late October, I send out a message to my customers and on Facebook. "Don't forget to change the batteries in your thermostats and detectors. And once again. I am dealing with a system that froze when the owners were away because both thermostats died.

These are already wired with two wires so no common. So I have put in a couple of 2 wire heat only mechanical thermostats. They asked about other options.

Has anyone tried this. I picked up two construction "bulb type" thermostats set at 50 degrees. They are small enough to fit inside the room thermostat. I tied in parallel with the room thermostat. If the batteries die, the bulb thermoses will maintain 50 degrees.

Has anyone tried this??

Luckily, there was "some" antifreeze left in the system. It slushed up, but no breaks.

Never fails. I get one every year. I am hoping this little addition fills the bill!