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Heat Mat Lifespan
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Heat Mat Lifespan
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.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
sanderson likes this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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.
Turan- Posts : 2620
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
sanderson and Scorpio Rising like this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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….
Last edited by Scorpio Rising on 3/3/2024, 5:40 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Typo)
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8712
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Turan and sanderson like this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
Turan and sanderson like this post
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8712
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
sanderson likes this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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
https://www.vivosun.com/vivosun-seedling-heat-mat-digital-thermostat-combo-48x20.75-2-pack-p68320123310964912-v150135981797278817
Scorpio Rising likes this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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
VIVOSUN 10"x20.75" Seedling Heat Mat with Built-in Temperature Controller
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
sanderson and Scorpio Rising like this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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.
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.
markqz
Forum Moderator- Posts : 914
Join date : 2019-09-02
Location : Lower left hand corner
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Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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. ??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.
Scorpio Rising likes this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
sanderson and Scorpio Rising like this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
What kind of light is that, sanderson?
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8712
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
Old fashioned T8 fluorescent shop lights. I've had them since ~Jan 2014.
Scorpio Rising likes this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
sanderson and Scorpio Rising like this post
Re: Heat Mat Lifespan
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!sanderson wrote:Old fashioned T8 fluorescent shop lights. I've had them since ~Jan 2014.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8712
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
sanderson likes this post
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