We had a special thermostat (call your oil company) put in our downstairs foyer. It is set as an alarm: If the house on that downstairs wall goes below say 49° or wherever you set it to go off, an automatic phone call goes to our oil listed friend, who then calls the oil company, pronto. We live in Boston and until recently, we tended to take 3-week vacations - even in the winter. We have an old Victorian house and we just want to be covered.

We also do all of the things that other Ziners have suggested. This is just back-up.

Good luck, Susie Newton, MA