Merry Christmas!
I get home from work at 7:00AM and discover that the unit is not running. I did a voltage check at the output wires of the thermostat and found it barely registering. I changed the batteries and "Presto", the system was fixed. I stopped payment on our credit card and sent them a $100 check for their response labor. Their supervisor came out to argue the refusal to pay. I called their bluff and told them to "remove the parts they installed and put the old parts back in". The supervisor called the technician and asked him if he replaced the thermostat batteries?, and he said "no". He apologized and left.
Your point is a great one! Once a year, change all of your batteries in the house.
I often charged my least favorite clients the standard rate of $200/hr, 8hr minimum on site, plus travel time and expenses. For a trip to NYC that was up to $3200. Sometimes all I did was show up, replace a wall wart, test the system, and leave — 1/2 hr.
Then I’d take a week off.
Merry Christmas!
Madam, I commend you for your choice of screen names. Especially, after reading your "about" page. Both are truly inspired.
Re: The ad you mentioned on that page.
Given that the only criteria you listed is "over six feet" (typo notwithstanding), I am compelled to inform you that I, an older gentleman living with one dog, am over six feet.
I'm not sure whether this constitutes answering your ad or not.
And that’s why I have kept my 2 Honeywell mercury thermostats that do not use batteries. They last forever. These new thermostats are a classic case of over engineering.
Quit using Alkaline batteries, use Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries.
The rechargeables won’t leak and ruin your electronics.