This is one really good reason to tape the probe to the heating element. It is secured outside the tub so a spilled water bowl, snake pee or a the snake causing the probe to come loose won't cause the heat to spike.Originally Posted by Subzero
Yes, if the probe fell out of the tub, your snake could get severely burned or killed, because the heat tape would then be running at full-throttle, trying to get the heat tape to heat the air of the room.
I don't know about "going up in flames"...but cooking your snake is a real possibility.