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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
 
Location: Oklahoma | This is my first year of keeping horses without a pond.... so enlighten me!! Will it make the water too warm or just above freezing? Is it safe?
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/allied-precision-2002dp-universal-drain-plug-de-icer
if not, then what do you suggest? I wish I could have automatic waters, but I just can't justify that yet.... probably will after about a week of busting ice!! |
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Location: NE Wyoming | We have used this style heater for the past 7 years. We live in NE WY so it can get a little chilly and we've never had a problem. Sometimes in the big 1000 gallon tank, some of the side will freeze up when it -20 or colder, but around the heater is open and there is plenty of room for them to get water. It keeps the water at a good temp for drinking and for the fish that live in there :) |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
 
| I have one in mine and it does not keep the water what I'd call "warm" but it does keep it from freezing. It's been in the signle digits at night and this morning I deceided to put my hand in the water to see what it felt like and I will say it was not warm enough to make me want to crawl in and soak in it. But it was a decent enough temperature for my horses to drink comfortably. And it was 8 degrees at 6:00 AM when I was out there this morning. As long as your wiring can handle it (remember a 1500 watt tank heater is like having 15, 100 watt light bulbs all on at the same time 24/7), it is very safe. And cheaper than a vet bill if your horse colics from not drinking enough water in the winter.
Edited by brlraceaddict 2014-11-13 10:47 AM
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  Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | I can't live without them...get the red ones with the cord that comes out of the top because they sit good in the tank...the blue ones are crap....I've never had a safety issue with them, but I keep my cords up off the ground where they won't get wet and out of reach for my horses. I also have the big heated tubs if I need them and heated buckets in my stalls if we get ice and I have to bring them in...they make life so much easier in the winter....
I've never used the drain plug type, just the one in the picture, and I've had the same ones for 8 years..
p.s...this type keeps the water unfroze in the coldest weather because it sits on top, not at the bottom of the tank...
Edited by Cindy Hamilton 2014-11-13 10:48 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| We use something similar.
Word of advice: be SURE to ground your tank/water. If the tank is one of the plastic Rubbermaid ones, you do this by driving in a ground rod next to the tank, and then using a piece of wire, attach to ground rod, and put other end of wire up over the edge of the tank and INTO the water, so that it's always in the water.
Just in case there is any stray voltage, that wire will ground it out and eliminate the horses getting shocked.
We haven't had an issue with that in the past few years, but have had issues before we properly grounded the tank/water. The instructions should also explain to do this. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | We use the in tank heater that screw into the drain like your link. We have one of those big blue tank (I think around 600 gallons). On days that it is in the teens or below it still partially freezes the half of the tank that is not close to the heater. It does not make the water warm. I prefer these over the floating heaters as well. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| Silly question......... are there any cordless de-icers? Power is an issue to one of my tanks.. Makes for a really long winter. |
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Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| SuckerForHorses - 2014-11-13 8:46 AM We use something similar. Word of advice: be SURE to ground your tank/water. If the tank is one of the plastic Rubbermaid ones, you do this by driving in a ground rod next to the tank, and then using a piece of wire, attach to ground rod, and put other end of wire up over the edge of the tank and INTO the water, so that it's always in the water. Just in case there is any stray voltage, that wire will ground it out and eliminate the horses getting shocked. We haven't had an issue with that in the past few years, but have had issues before we properly grounded the tank/water. The instructions should also explain to do this.
Hmmm, interesting. I have the plastic rubbermaid tank with the plug in the bottom hole type heater and have never had a ground issue with it. And I just stuck my hand in the trough this morning too, so I feel the water temp. Ahhhhhh! I can't use the float kind, my horse would think they were toys. :) |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Do they make heated tubs? I've got 2 of mine fenced away from the pond and have been using a rubber hay tub for water. I don't want or need a big tank.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| brlraceaddict - 2014-11-13 11:51 AM
SuckerForHorses - 2014-11-13 8:46 AM We use something similar. Word of advice: be SURE to ground your tank/water. If the tank is one of the plastic Rubbermaid ones, you do this by driving in a ground rod next to the tank, and then using a piece of wire, attach to ground rod, and put other end of wire up over the edge of the tank and INTO the water, so that it's always in the water. Just in case there is any stray voltage, that wire will ground it out and eliminate the horses getting shocked. We haven't had an issue with that in the past few years, but have had issues before we properly grounded the tank/water. The instructions should also explain to do this.
Hmmm, interesting. I have the plastic rubbermaid tank with the plug in the bottom hole type heater and have never had a ground issue with it. And I just stuck my hand in the trough this morning too, so I feel the water temp. Ahhhhhh! I can't use the float kind, my horse would think they were toys. :)
Well, we never had an issue either...until we had an issue!
And once they get shocked, it takes a while for them to be willing to drink from that tank again.
Also, your hand won't always feel it. In fact, most times you won't be able to feel it, but the animals can.
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| I use a submersible tank heater
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/allied-precision-sinking-de-icer-1500-w
I've had better luck with these... but does anyone else see their electric bill spike with these?! mine does every year!! Anyone tried a thermacube to help control when it is on and off? i'm wondering if that would help save me some money! |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | I use the one that plugs in from the bottom because my horses tend to pull the other ones out of the stock tank for fun. I haven't had any problems with it. It's saving my butt right now because we won't get out of the 20's today and the horses are drinking lots of water with all the hay they are eating. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I wish we had some. My father in law and husband are against them because years ago they had one short out in the tank and the horses wouldn't drink. Aparrently the horses could sense it. Nothing appeared wrong with the heater though...so now they won't use them. I chop ice morning noon and night for anything in the corral :(
This morning at 7 am we were 22- and the ice was a good 2 inches thick. Went out an hour and half later to let Audie out of the barn and it was already nearly an inch thick again.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| To each their own, but I would rather prevent them from getting shocked by properly installing and grounding the heating unit/tank. |
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Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | Three 4 Luck - 2014-11-13 11:15 AM Do they make heated tubs? I've got 2 of mine fenced away from the pond and have been using a rubber hay tub for water. I don't want or need a big tank.
Yes, I have a couple of them...I got them at Atwoods...mine are green and the size of a muck bucket, 16 gallons with a heating element and cord...they are about $65...I see Jeffers has them for $66.95...
http://www.jefferspet.com/products/heated-16-gallon-tub
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | SuckerForHorses - 2014-11-13 10:32 AM To each their own, but I would rather prevent them from getting shocked by properly installing and grounding the heating unit/tank.
if this is meant to my comment, sounds good. I do plan to mention the grounding part. Maybe they never thought of that. I grew up on 5 acres and we used a heater in the water in the barn. Still worried about burning the barn down. We have heaters in the electric waterers in the other corral, but even they freeze and need broke open in our weather. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I have used 2 things before.
1. A propane tank heater. They are pricey, but they work great, you just can't have them in a windy spot, the pilot goes out. Ours only went out when the wind was out of the south east, which is pretty close to once or twice a year.
2. We got down to 2 horses, so we use the plug in water tubs that look like a poop bucket from Farm Inovators.
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Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | SuckerForHorses - 2014-11-13 11:32 AM To each their own, but I would rather prevent them from getting shocked by properly installing and grounding the heating unit/tank.
Me too...thanks for the reminder...last year someone told me to ground my tanks and I haven't done it yet, but I am going to do that tomorrow...luckily my horses don't mess with the floating heaters.... |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Thanks so much for all the info!!!! I'm guessing it's safe to leave the floating ones on 24/7 (or as needed)? I'm just afraid that my gelding would get to nudging around and burn his nose. My dad has one of them, but he just puts it in long enough to let the ice melt a couple times a day. I'm sure when his calves get as bunched up as possible to drink someone would be bound to get burned.
My tanks are just the Rubbermaid 100 gallon ones. I'm assuming I won't be able to run two of these de-icers at the same time since it's so much wattage? |
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Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | Longneck - 2014-11-13 11:39 AM Thanks so much for all the info!!!! I'm guessing it's safe to leave the floating ones on 24/7 (or as needed)? I'm just afraid that my gelding would get to nudging around and burn his nose. My dad has one of them, but he just puts it in long enough to let the ice melt a couple times a day. I'm sure when his calves get as bunched up as possible to drink someone would be bound to get burned.
My tanks are just the Rubbermaid 100 gallon ones. I'm assuming I won't be able to run two of these de-icers at the same time since it's so much wattage?
One of my tanks is the Rubbermaid 100 gallon one and one heater does the job...if you get the floating one, buy the plastic ring that goes around the element, then it won't touch the side of the tank or burn your horse. |
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