so i have been using this rack for about 2 years now and it has done just fine but things get a little shotty come winter. i live in the north east where we hit the 20's often in the winter and i live in an apartment that kinda drafty i do my best to keep the drafts out. anyways its a PVC open rack system much like the ones you see on youtube. i have it next to the main heater for the house i get ambient temps of 82 pretty consistent but on cold cold days it can drop to about 75 thats where the draft apartment becomes an issue. in the next week or 2 i will be building a rack using 1/2 thick MDF that will have top bottom sides and back each snakes bin will be in its own cubby. im gonna use 6in 12watt THG heat tape. thinking about running 3in flexwatt heat tape down the back off the rack on a seperate thermostat that wouldnt come in contact with the bins to give temp control example: on cold days i could turn the back heat thermo up to say 100 (again wouldnt be in contact with the tubs would just be heating the cubby space the tubs are in) so do you think the rack having solid sides and back and only haveing the face of the rack open would help out with the overall temps of the bins? (hot spots not an issue the heat tape can still reach its desired temps).

another thing iv been worried about is i have a ~1700g female that i have been hoping to breed this year that is ALWAYS curled up IN her waterdish and the water is very cold to the touch even when the temp drops into the high 70's on those dredfull cold days shes in her water.. she must be freezing whats going on there? im afraid shes gonna get herself sick but shes doing it totally by choice. also im worried about her not ovulating because he body temp always being so low.

any pointer would be much appreciated.