Heating question

[Reticulate]

I'd like to start using something along the lines of a ceramic space heater, for my snake room, which for now is an extra room in my house. However, since having a house fire a couple of yrs ago, I have been extremely cautious and hesitant about using ANY sort of heating in the home. For example I researched all of my caging and heating materials in what would seem to be overkill to many before going with them....it's amazing on the number of malfunctions of thermostats and heating devices, that have triggered fires in the hobby. What many people think are completely full-proof, are simply not. Anyhow, anyone with any input or experience with a SAFE room heater, your help would be greatly appreciated.

I would most likely be using it for approx. 12 hrs. a day on average, setting it on 80 deg.

[The Snake Guru]

Well I tell ya what, good on ya for keeping an eye out for electrical hazards, I think that is an over looked part of the hobby especially in large collections.

I've used both the room style ceramic heaters and the stand alone plug in style base0board heaters....both seem to work very well, and are seemingly safe. I know the new style ceramic heaters are supposed to the safest ones out there, even if you have kids or pets running around.

~B~

[mcem]

I know many of these heaters have thermostats in them but it wouldn't be a bad idea to hook the heater up to another thermostat just in case the heater's thermostat fails. Maybe overkill but would add a little protection in case of failure...I've had friends do this.

[The Snake Guru]

Indeed that is a very good idea.....and an inexpensive safety precaution.

~B~

[Reticulate]

Indeed that is a very good idea.....and an inexpensive safety precaution.

~B~

Thanks for the input guys, I just wanted to raise the ambient room temp a bit and figured this would be a possible option.

[Reticulate]

I know many of these heaters have thermostats in them but it wouldn't be a bad idea to hook the heater up to another thermostat just in case the heater's thermostat fails. Maybe overkill but would add a little protection in case of failure...I've had friends do this.

I've considered this also, like you say better safe than sorry. Believe me, I wouldn't want anyone to experience losing their collection, and homes, due to a fire; I'm still recouping from it almost 3 years later !

[kahunadog]

Ok, I feel my input will acually be handy here.
I live in Ohio now and it sucks, but thats another story, but before I moved here I lived on a 32 foot boat in NC. As anyone who has been on a boat knows they rock back and forth and the LAST thing you want on a boat is a fire. Well I used a little ceramic heater that has a switch on the bottom that if the heater fell over it cut off. It also had a built in thermostat. I know the chance of a heater in a room tipping over on its own is not going to happen but not only myself but all my friends that lived on boats used the same thing because of the low risk factor. So I would say go with a little ceramic heater. If its let to run steady with little changes to temps from doors or windows being opened you should be ok. I think I paid 20 bucks for it and it takes very little energy.