Winter is here, or approaching some of us out there in MOC-land, it is tempting to leave the noisy inefficient propane furnace off and warm our piggies with the electric heaters we all have.
When do we switch to the Propane furnace.... Looking at the little thermometer stuck with a suction cup to the window is one way, but there can be 2 to 5 degrees difference between the under-belly and the window. Some of us have the remote read thermometer with a sensor right in the under-belly, nice.. but here is a $10.00 way for the masses to accomplish this reading.
Shut off the water faucet from the street, turn on the switch to the pump.
Turn on the bathroom cold faucet, let it run for a minute or so to get water from the lines out and condition the plastic water lines, then you have the actual temperature of the tank water. If it is anywhere in the high or mid 30's, turn the propane furnace on. No one wants frozen tanks and frozen water lines....
Inexpensive thermometer:
