heating snake room with electric and or space heaters

I've heard of people heating snake rooms with electric space heaters with a thermostat and or space heaters with a thermostat. Does anyone have any advice or experience heating a snake room this way?

Hey There,

I keep my snakes in a room in my basement and it can get pretty chilly down there in both the summer and the winter (around 70). I use a combination of PVC enclosures and racks so my husbandry temperatures within the tubs themselves are okay, but I added a secondary heat source just to boost the overall rooms ambient temperature. I use a Miniature Space Heater (Oil Furnace) that has a built in thermostat in it ($69.00 at home depot). It has multiple settings on it for wattage, proportional, non-proportional and I find that my Hydro bill did not jump after I have had this running on a 7/24 basis.

This secondary heat source is not by any means necessary (in my situation), but doesn't hurt in my opinion.

I would not trust the build in thermostat in a heater they generally go out first leaving the heat source un-regulated.

The best is to get a oil filled heater (you can find one for below $40 at target, lowes, home depot, walmart) and get a Ranco thermostat http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired (chose the room heater option)

It will keep the temps exactly where you want them within a degree and will be safe.

I've never heard of this... I know this is how they make walk in incubators and the reason for that is the egg boxes do not need a warm and a cool side - all they need is a constant ambient temp. Most people with big snake rooms use heat tape either belly or back heat. Its generally inexpensive and it will work better.

Unless you mean of course to up the ambient temp if your room is too cool in general. I haven't heard of this either but it makes sense :).

Cheers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I would not trust the build in thermostat in a heater they generally go out first leaving the heat source un-regulated.

The best is to get a oil filled heater (you can find one for below $40 at target, lowes, home depot, walmart) and get a Ranco thermostat http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired (chose the room heater option)

It will keep the temps exactly where you want them within a degree and will be safe.

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Hi Deborah,

Am I understanding this correctly - I purchase the Honeywell Oil Filled Heater with the "temperature set" feature so I could regulate how high it took my room temp - but are you saying I shouldn't trust this.

Am I supposed to hook this oil filled heater up to a Helix Thermostat too??

Please explain - thanks

Yes, you plug the oil-filled heater into a outside thermostat. The heaters are awesome, but the thermostat built into the heater can go out and lead to your snake room temps soaring to 130F. I know, it's happened to me when I trusted the heater's thermostat rather than a outside seperate thermostat.

I did not realize they made those specifically for room heaters. I tried to plug my heater into a regular thermostat and it kept tripping the breaker, so I'll definitely be buying a special-built one from that link, THANKS!

Wow, good to know. I spent the extra bucks to get one with a thermostat but I guess that was stupid.

I will order the Ranco right away. Is it as simple as plugging the heater into the ranco and then the ranco into the wall - I am not good with electronics - lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L.West

Wow, good to know. I spent the extra bucks to get one with a thermostat but I guess that was stupid.

I will order the Ranco right away. Is it as simple as plugging the heater into the ranco and then the ranco into the wall - I am not good with electronics - lol

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I dont use rancos so i cant comment on them directly. But with my herpstat 2. It has 2 outputs. 1 i use to control my rack and 1 i use to control my room. I have the built in termostat set to max on the unit. And the herpstat set to on off mode. With the prob just sittin there in the room.

I have an oil filled as well.
Soo

Heater--> thermostat--> wall outlet

Edit:
Said it once and ill say it again... My herpstat was the best investment hands down for my collection

So, just to clarify, you set the temp on the oil heater to its highest but have it plugged into a thermostat that is set to the temp you want your room. You mentioned that you just lay the probe on the floor - is it near the heater??

I ordered the Ranco but am nervous now worrying about my snake room because I have been relying on this little heater to keep my room temp up on these chillier days - I pray it doesn't malfunction before my Ranco gets here.

I would also be sure the room is well insulated, especially around the door and any window. Otherwise, you are wasting a lot of heat.

Insulate the electrical outlets as well - you can get felt insulators for them for a couple of bucks.