Heat Mat Lifespan

OhioGardener 3/2/2024, 6:30 pm

Apparently the heat mats which are available in all of the big box stores have a fairly short lifespan. I have 4 of them that I bought 4 or 5 years ago, don't actually remember when. But, now when I got into the spring seed starting mode, 3 of the 4 heat mats no longer heat. Kind of disappointing after getting all of the seed trays set up and planted to discover there weren't any heat mats to set them on. So, today I ordered some new ones from Amazon. They'll be delivered tomorrow.

**Turan** 3/3/2024, 2:17 pm

What brand heat mat did not last and what have you replaced them with? Mine is 10 years or so old and is a Planters Pride by Meyers industries. I bought it from a local nursery here. I worry every spring that it won't heat up this time.

**Scorpio Rising** 3/3/2024, 5:39 pm

I will have to look, mine are 2nd year. Before that, I had (and still have) an old heating pad that I surrounded by aluminum foil….that was my heating pad. Obviously, not big enough. But hey? It worked! I put the heat lovers on it, and put the cold tolerant things on the other side….

OhioGardener 3/3/2024, 6:08 pm

Turan wrote:What brand heat mat did not last and what have you replaced them with? Mine is 10 years or so old and is a Planters Pride by Meyers industries. I bought it from a local nursery here. I worry every spring that it won't heat up this time.

I had four heat mats. The three that quit working are all Planters Pride, and the fourth one which is still working is a Hydra Farm. Don't remember where I bought them, but the three Planters Pride were probably bought at Menards. Don't know about the other one.

**Scorpio Rising** 3/4/2024, 12:22 pm

**sanderson** 3/5/2024, 2:43 am

I've had 2 of the Vivoson 20x48 heat mats with thermostats and probes for 9-10 years. I'm down to needing only one mat for 4 trays, so I guess I now have a spare. They look like the same style that SR has. I definitely needed them when I had the trays down on the tile floor where it was 60*F.

https://www.vivosun.com/vivosun-seedling-heat-mat-digital-thermostat-combo-48x20.75-2-pack-p68320123310964912-v150135981797278817

OhioGardener 3/5/2024, 7:19 am

The two replacement mats I ordered are Vivosun 10"x20.75" thermostatically controlled mats. They arrived yesterday, and are already in use.

VIVOSUN 10"x20.75" Seedling Heat Mat with Built-in Temperature Controller

markqz 3/5/2024, 1:50 pm

I think I have a Vivosun. Guess I should look around and see if I can find it.

Is it possible that your mats were stored under freezing conditions? I'm thinking that might cause the contacts to separate. Not that it takes much to break these things.

**sanderson** 3/5/2024, 6:07 pm

markqz wrote:I think I have a Vivosun. Guess I should look around and see if I can find it.

Is it possible that your mats were stored under freezing conditions? I'm thinking that might cause the contacts to separate. Not that it takes much to break these things.

Good question. Mine are in the garage where they are exposed to high heat but not freezing. Maybe the freezing like in a garage impacts them more than heat. ??

OhioGardener 3/5/2024, 7:03 pm

markqz wrote:Is it possible that your mats were stored under freezing conditions? I'm thinking that might cause the contacts to separate. Not that it takes much to break these things.

Mine have never been subjected to freezing, or excessive heat. They are kept at room temperature.

**Scorpio Rising** 3/6/2024, 9:13 am

What kind of light is that, sanderson?

**sanderson** 3/6/2024, 1:28 pm

Old fashioned T8 fluorescent shop lights. I've had them since ~Jan 2014. Razz

OhioGardener 3/6/2024, 4:44 pm

The boxes that the Vivosun heat mats came in have cute end flaps.

**Scorpio Rising** 3/7/2024, 9:33 am

sanderson wrote:Old fashioned T8 fluorescent shop lights. I've had them since ~Jan 2014.

That’s what I have, too. I think they might be T10s. May have to get a conversion kit to T8s if I need to replace them ever!

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