Keeping incubator warm in a cold house

[Want Less]

We have a new Brinsea 20 Advance and we also have a very old, drafty house (average temp in the house is about 55 degrees). We will be starting our first eggs in a couple weeks and I am trying to find ways to keep the incubator from having to work too hard to stay warm. It is not possible to keep one room heated 24/7 without heating the entire house so I am looking into ways to keep just the incubator warm... safely...

My idea right now is to use one of those big Rubbermaid plastic totes without the lid and turning it upside down over the incubator to hopefully help trap some of the heat inside it. Maybe propping it up just a little for venting (so the humidity stays where it needs).

Any other thoughts or suggestions? I want to do a few test runs with whatever method before we start our eggs.

 

[crazyhen]

There has to be air for the incubator to circulate air around the eggs. You can't completly close it in. Other than that I can not help you. Maybe my post will help to keep this open so you can get some better answers. Gloria Jean

 

[Jferlisi]

Quote:
Do you have like a walk in closet somewhere you can put it in?

 

[KLRA]

It got really cold in my house for a couple of days during this last incubation attempt and I just wrapped a scarf or blanket around the perimeter of my incubator, making sure not to cover the vent openings, and that helped a lot.

 

[silkiechicken]

I would venture to guess an expensive bator like that should have the power to maintain temp even if your house is 55 or it's in a barn. It's not going to "work" any harder, just have the heat element switched on longer.

 

[can you hear me now?]

Even in a fracture old house you can find good spots. I live in a drafty house and actually put mine in my closet of my bedroom when hatching eggs. My suggestion is look around maybe even the bathroom would be good. Or possibly getting some sort of space heater for the room you put it in.

 

[lzufelt]

I am also looking for help with this problem! Please see post, "Incubation Information in a Drafty House."

I will be keeping a space heater on in the kitchen so that hopefully when the first in the mudroom goes out heat will remain in the kitchen. I have my incubator up on and balanced (safely) between two chairs and I am going to drap a blanket over the chairs (not touching the incubator or directly covering the holes.)