Changing Flexwatt

[jben]

Hey.netters,

I have been thinking and will most likely start changing my flexwatt on an annual basis. Are any of you already doing this or thinking about it? I use belly heat and with the wear and tear of tubs sliding in/out and reading about these fires lately I'm getting a little worried. Please share your thoughts/advice, Thanks

[The Serpent Merchant]

Sounds reasonable, it certainly is cheap enough to do so. I use PVC enclosures so I don't have the wear and tear of opening and closing tubs. I have been planning on replacing my flexwatt every 5 years.

[TimNA]

I haven't been keeping for a long time such as some have. I will be coming up on a year in no time & my flexwatt is in perfect shape still. No rub/wear marks at all. I check on my snakes daily sometimes multiple times a day. Just by going by my experience I would say it's not really needed to be changed on a annual basis.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I think if you're worried about wear and tear of your flexwatt due to rubbing you might want to get a rack where the flexwatt is recessed (no more rubbing) and in the long run it would be more cost effective than changing your heat tape annually and would give you piece of mind regarding rubbing.

Animal plastics racks would be what I recommend in that case.

[WingedWolfPsion]

If you see signs of wear, scrapes, any discoloration, creases, etc--change it.

If not, it's probably good for 3 to 5 years, so long as the wiring is completely secure (check the cord for damage, discoloration, deterioration, etc). I think everything should be checked regularly.

I recently changed it out in one my hatchling racks that I had picked up used, and plan to do the other rack this summer.

It's a good time to break down and disassemble, clean, and disinfect the rack, while you're at it.

[mr.spooky]

I cover ALL of my flexwatt with the silver tape. bins never touch the flexwatt.
spooky

[SlitherinSisters]

If you are letting it get worn down you will need to do that. I don't see the point in letting that happen, when it is so easy to avoid that problem.

This is what I did on my belly heat racks, they are composite window shims, and they work like a charm.

[WtGreg]

I change out when it needs it. The first couple of racks I built rubbed. I redid the design to have a slight recess where the mats are, and now I wouldn't change it out for at least a couple years as they are not rubbing. As long as you aren't experiencing rubbing or damage, don't worry about it on a yearly basis I.M.O.

This was a case of live and learn for me. The one thing to pass on to you that I found: My heat mats that are on the same circuit would register differently if some were new and some were old. I already knew that the heat mats registered slightly different levels naturally, but this was not slight. I basically discovered if you are going to change out a mat, you have to change all out on that circuit, or at least watch it very closely. Some may not need changing out, as long as they are registering close, but if I went with the temp variations I was seeing I would have had some cooked snakes and some that were fine. I changed all out and things seemed 'normal,' so I would recommend a full change just in case... it isn't the most expensive of stuff vs the damage they could cause to the snake.

[WtGreg]

Also, protect with silver tape so what rubs is the tape, not the mat. I still have a couple racks that rub as they are older without the recessing mat, and on those the tape saved the mat a couple times over... that being said, if you see the tape has worn all the way through to the mat, be sure the mat hasn't started wearing through too if you plan on reapplying the tape without changing things out. If the tape addition causes too much pressure on the tub and causes sticking/friction, then slightly shear/file the upper edge of the tub just enough that it doesn't stick. I would rather have a slightly sheared tub that a unprotected and eventually faulty heat mat!

I'm gonna stop now before I have enough to publish a novel

[kklepac]

I cover mine with the silver metallic tape too. It protects the flex watt and I think it also helps spread the heat more evenly too.