For those of you who are not interested in building your own heated solutions, here is a way to keep your plastic waterer from freezing and ALSO keep it from getting damaged by the heated base.
Use wood to keep the plastic waterer from resting directly on the heated base. I made an oversized wooden trivet because I enjoy woodworking projects, but you could just put a couple of pieces of 1x2 under between your waterer and the heated base.
Mine has worked through two winters so far down to -2 F, and kept the waterer from being damaged by the heater.
My key to success is trapping air between the plastic waterer and the heated base, so the warmth of the heater keeps the water from freezing without direct contact that will make the plastic age and crack, or perhaps even melt.
Keep in mind the heat doesn’t make it to the top of the waterer - the lid can freeze to the water reservoir so use caution if you have to open it to refill.
Here’s what the wooden spacer looks like:
Use wood to keep the plastic waterer from resting directly on the heated base. I made an oversized wooden trivet because I enjoy woodworking projects, but you could just put a couple of pieces of 1x2 under between your waterer and the heated base.
Mine has worked through two winters so far down to -2 F, and kept the waterer from being damaged by the heater.
My key to success is trapping air between the plastic waterer and the heated base, so the warmth of the heater keeps the water from freezing without direct contact that will make the plastic age and crack, or perhaps even melt.
Keep in mind the heat doesn’t make it to the top of the waterer - the lid can freeze to the water reservoir so use caution if you have to open it to refill.
Here’s what the wooden spacer looks like:
Gorilla Glue fixed it right up but now I’m more careful.
It’s never been an issue with my girls.
As for the heater, I didn’t mention a name because I’ve seen the same heater from multiple sources/brands. I have since found a similar heater made FOR plastic waterers, but if was $85 - too much for my budget.