Good points on the analog backup, but honestly, swapping thermostats mid-storm isn't always practical—especially if you're away or it's late at night. I'd suggest investing in a small UPS (battery backup) for your Wi-Fi thermostat and router instead. Keeps things running smoothly through short outages without needing manual intervention. Firmware updates help, sure, but hardware stability is key... learned that after one too many midnight boiler resets.
"Keeps things running smoothly through short outages without needing manual intervention."
Totally agree on the UPS suggestion—saved me from stumbling around in the dark basement more times than I'd like to admit. A quick tip though: make sure your boiler's ignition system is also covered by the UPS. I've seen setups where folks had the thermostat and router backed up, but forgot the boiler itself needed power to fire up... facepalm moment right there.
Also, don't underestimate the power of regular maintenance. I know, I know—sounds like plumber propaganda—but seriously, half the midnight calls I get are due to neglected burners or dirty flame sensors. A quick annual checkup can save you from those dreaded 2 AM resets (and save me from having to crawl out of bed).
And speaking of analog backups, they're not totally useless. If you're away for a long stretch, setting your Wi-Fi thermostat to alert you if temps drop below a certain point can buy you some peace of mind. Technology's great until it isn't, right?
Good call on the ignition system—I learned that one the hard way last winter. Thought I was all set with the UPS, then realized the boiler wasn't firing because... duh, no power to the ignition. Lesson learned, lol. Regular maintenance is definitely underrated too, saved me some headaches.
Had a similar experience, but honestly, regular maintenance hasn't always been a lifesaver for me. Had a tech come out last fall, said everything looked perfect... then two months later, boom, dead boiler on the coldest night of the year. Turns out it was a tiny sensor issue no one caught. I'm all for preventative checks, but sometimes I wonder if it's just luck of the draw... or maybe I'm just unlucky, haha.
Totally get your frustration—been there myself. But honestly, I've found regular maintenance usually catches most issues before they escalate. A couple years back, my tech spotted a worn valve during a routine check, replaced it, and probably saved me from a similar cold-night disaster. Maybe it's not foolproof, but I'd say it tips the odds in your favor. Still, boilers seem to have minds of their own sometimes...
