Technology for mountain homes

The cold: protecting the pipes

• Heating in frost-protection mode while you're away, with sensors in the most exposed rooms.
• An alert if indoor temperature drops below a threshold: the boiler may have stopped.
• Monitoring of the boiler or heat pump.
• Shutting off and draining outdoor water before winter.

Power cuts

Storms and snowfall cause outages and brief dips. Without protection, the heating doesn't restart on its own, the router hangs and nobody finds out.

• A UPS for the router, alarm and control system.
• Alerts for power loss and restoration.
• Equipment that restarts on its own when power returns.
• Surge protection.

Humidity

A closed-up house builds up humidity. Humidity sensors, a programmed minimum ventilation rate and alerts prevent condensation and mould, especially in basements and bathrooms.

Water

Leak sensors at critical points and a solenoid valve that shuts off the main supply. In an empty house, a leak can go unnoticed for days.

Snow and access

• Cameras to check the driveway and roof before you travel.
• Remote opening of the gate or garage for the snow clearing service.
• Ramp or gutter heating, where fitted, controlled by temperature and moisture rather than a timer.

Outdoor equipment

Cameras, access points, video intercoms and detectors must cope with sub-zero temperatures, ice and snow. Not all "outdoor" equipment does: check the temperature range stated by the manufacturer.

The connection

Everything depends on the internet. A 4G/5G backup line and an alert if the house stops reporting are essential for a home managed remotely.

Getting it ready before you arrive

A cold mountain house takes many hours to warm up, even longer with underfloor heating. From your phone, you raise the setpoint a day or two ahead, check everything is in order and arrive to a warm house.

Who goes if something happens

Technology raises the alert, but someone has to be able to act: a neighbour, a property manager or a maintenance service with access through a temporary code.

Before winter

• Check sensor batteries and the UPS.
• Test the alarm and alerts.
• Check frost-protection mode.
• Clean cameras and check where they're pointing.