Insulating a tub

I am having a hard time with my temps in my tub. My dad doesn't believe in heat so the house is kept at 60-65 all the time. I have 2 heat pads on my little tub and the ambient air temperature is 67 degrees. Last night I put foil all 3 of the 4 sides and the top to see if i could better insulate the tub with no luck.

Have any ideas on a better insulator? Or any other suggestions on getting my temps right?

Space heater for the room

This is the exact problem I'm having as well. I am using two pieces of flexwatt, one going into the thermostat and another through a dimmer for the cooler side. And my ambient temps still just aren't high enough. I hate to resort to a space heater for the entire room.

I think I might try a third piece of flexwatt along the back. But I'm curious what some people are using for insulation.

You need not just a heat pad, but a radiant heat panel....something that projects heat into the tub. Otherwise, a space heater for the room.

JonV

Its a room with carpet flooring. Aren't they dangerous? I would not like to catch my house on fire. I have a space heater for the crates for the dogs in the garage but that is concrete flooring.

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Originally Posted by nevohraalnavnoj

You need not just a heat pad, but a radiant heat panel....something that projects heat into the tub. Otherwise, a space heater for the room.

JonV

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Do you have a specific on the radiant heat panel? Like where I can get one? How to set it up and everything? I am new to all of this so I have no idea. I am just trying to do right by the snake. Thanks for any info!

You could stick a towel or a blanket over the top, just make sure the sides are open so some air can get in. Do you have the tub sitting on anything? You could put it on some foam board covered in aluminum or aluminum tape, this might help reflect more heat back into the tub instead of radiating the heat into the floor (is she under your bed still). J

Also, remember that heat rises, so the closer to the ground she is, the less heat she is getting. Is there any way you can raise her tub somewhere higher?

I second the space heater.

Radient heat panels are pretty expensive (you can get them from reptile basics). No heat source by your snake should ever pose a risk of setting anything on fire, if it did, your snake would obiously already be dead. Any heat source you are using directly on the enclosure should not go hoteer than 95*, which is not hot enough to melt anything.

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

Do you have a specific on the radiant heat panel? Like where I can get one? How to set it up and everything? I am new to all of this so I have no idea. I am just trying to do right by the snake. Thanks for any info!

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There's a few different brands. I'll be ordering one from LLLReptile next week.

They screw into the top/side of the enclosure, they don't get hot to the touch. They are pricey though. 11x16 is about $70

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...t-heat-panels/

Go to WalMart or wherever and get a 1500 watt oil-filled heater. They aren't more than $40. They are very safe. I use mine in my snake room which has carpeting and it's fine. These don't dry out the air like forced-air heaters do.

If you have a Johnson Controls or Ranco thermostat, you can hook up the heater to that and it will be even safer.

But really, all you need to do is cover the tub up with a thick blanket or pillowcase. This will insulate it better and you won't lose as much heat.

You can always point a red bulb at the tub and keep it on 24/7. Home Depot, WalMart(the cult), and Lowes have red flood bulbs for around $5. That would help bring your ambients up.

Yes she is still under my bed. I thought about moving her to my closet but I have no outlets in there. I cant move her higher. She is on a piece of foam board although it is not wrapped in foil tape or anything. I will do that tonight and see if that helps.

I will look into a heater as I currently sleep with a heating pad as well because I love it hot. I will also consider the heat panel as well. Thanks for all the info. Oh one more question, when I put the foil on is it shiny side in or out or does it matter?

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

Do you have a specific on the radiant heat panel? Like where I can get one? How to set it up and everything? I am new to all of this so I have no idea. I am just trying to do right by the snake. Thanks for any info!

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These are quite expensive, unfortunately.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/RBI-Rad...p-1-c-283.html

A cheaper way would be a ceramic heater or a oil filled radiator heater. I have had no problem using my ceramic heater in a carpeted room. I made sure to get a quality one, with several safety features built in.

JonV

im thinking i might end up having the same prob. I thought of getting some of this -Click and putting it on the lid. Then when it gets warmer out, just buy a diff lid & swap em out.


Mike~

I like the idea of some sort of foil covered board under the tub to radiate heat back up.

Has anyone tried another piece of something like flexwatt on the sides? Will that sort of back heat help with the ambient temps?

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Originally Posted by TexasGuy

I like the idea of some sort of foil covered board under the tub to radiate heat back up.

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This is what i just picked up for under my tub-Click

Figured it should work pretty good. and you can get a 50' roll for $2.99


Mike~

Well last night I put the foil tape down on the foam board under the tank and covered the tub with a blanket (a small mcrofiber throw) Her ambient temp was up to 71 degrees this morning which is the highest its ever been.

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

Well last night I put the foil tape down on the foam board under the tank and covered the tub with a blanket (a small mcrofiber throw) Her ambient temp was up to 71 degrees this morning which is the highest its ever been.

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cover all but one end with either reflectix or foam and it would warm up more yet

Is that the foil bubble wrap looking stuff?

^^^^Yes


Mike~

i just recently built a custom snake room 10 feet x 5 feet x 7 feet high in my garage we live in toronto ontario and its currently -20 with the wind, in the snake room all the snake have their own heat(heat wire w/flexwatt) and there is also a space heater and humidifier that i purchased at wal-mart for $49.99 each CDN$ . . . both the humidifier and the heater are set to a certain temperature and humidity once they reach the setting they shut themselves off when it gets below the setting it turns back on until it gets back to the setting, i find this works great the space heater also has a safety on it which shuts itself down until you manually turn it back on if it over heats or malfunctions so im sure itll be safe for carpet. . . i know u dont want to use a space heater unless you have to but if u change ur mind they are great!

At what point (temp) would you consider low ambient temps to be a problem?

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Originally Posted by TexasGuy

At what point (temp) would you consider low ambient temps to be a problem?

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If they are constantly below 75*, then that might pose a problem. Is the snake going to die if the ambient is below 78*? No, but it could very well get sick. Much like how if we are in the cold too long, we get sick.

Well I foiled the whole tub and put a blanket over the tub and her temp is up to 77 degrees this morning. I am going out tonight hopefully to get the foil bubble wrap stuff tonight, target didnt have anything nor did they have any type of space heater.

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

You can always point a red bulb at the tub and keep it on 24/7. Home Depot, WalMart(the cult), and Lowes have red flood bulbs for around $5. That would help bring your ambients up.

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Is there any advantage to one of those CHE type bulbs as compared to the red bulb?

I'm thinking I might need to do something like this in order to get my ambient temps up where they need to be.