Dimmer just as good as thermostat for heat tape?

[jdmls88]

I whole heartedly believe in thermostats. If the probe is not in the tub you just adjust for it. Set the temp to 95 or 97 instead of 92 if it were in the tub. The tstat will adjust if your house temps go up even if the probe is taped to the flexwatt. Plus with a dimmer you could accidentally knock the knob and cook your snakes. Where atleast with a thermostat its harder to do and if you manage to you will know the temp you pumped it up too. I say go big or go home. You dont have to go helix but any tstat is worth the money over a dimmer.