Winter Watchmen, wingman a must for base residents leaving town Published Dec. 17, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- On-base housing residents who are planning to travel are reminded that a helpful neighbor and a Winter Watchman are necessities. The Winter Watchman is a thermostat, red light bulb and extension cord kit that is hung in a front window. It is designed to indicate when it becomes too cold in the house. The person designated by the resident to watch the house must check inside daily to ensure no loss of heat or power to the home. If the red light comes on, a Balfour Beatty representative will meet the designee at the house to check the furnace operation and ensure that there are no frozen water lines that could cause pipes to burst. Amber Latozke, Balfour Beatty Communities resident specialist, urged residents to check in with the housing office if they plan to be gone for more than 24 hours. "If you're going to be away from the area for an extended length of time, you need to make sure that you have a Winter Watchman installed, and that you have someone on call to watch your house while you're gone," she said. "When water lines freeze, it causes pipes to burst, and that means flooding and water damage. Having a Winter Watchman installed in the home and having someone nearby to keep an eye on the home helps make sure those things can be caught before they become a serious, expensive problem." Residents must bring the Winter Watchman back to the housing office within one week of returning home or incur the cost of replacing the kit. For more information, call the community office at 701-594-8000, or log on to GrandForksFamilyHousing.com.