Farm InnovatorsC-50 150W Premium Cast Aluminum Submersible DeIcer Heater for Bird Baths & Fountains

Have had it for 2 winters, still works well.

works great.

I’ve used one of these heaters for three years. It’s not only worked during “normal” winter weather, but has also worked during some of the worst winter weather we’ve had in more than a century (-30 to -40 degree windchills).Some thoughts about it:1. I was afraid squirrels and other “chewers” may try to chew through the exterior extension cord that went to this heater. I ran that cord through some PVC pipe, which has kept all those “chewers” safe.2. Since this heater, like most such heaters, doesn’t have an automatic shutoff should the birdbath go dry, it’s important to keep checking the water level. Some things I’ve found that have seemed to speed up dissipation have been:-A combination of very cold temperatures, low humidity, high winds, and excessive usage by wildlife.-Steam fog (mist) that comes off the surface of the water under certain conditions.-Silly birds that take big baths in the dead of winter.3. During our historically bitter weather, ice started to form around the edges of the birdbath. Interestingly, I discovered that ice helped keep the birdbath from drying out, possibly because of displacement, and/or the heater melting the underside of the ice. As a result, I didn’t have to refill it as often.4. The birdbath AND heater must be cleaned periodically to ensure the heater continues to function properly.5. Many people have complained about the short cord on this heater However, each type of heater must meet certain standards to be safe, which is why this particular heater has such a short cord. There are heaters that serve the same purpose, but have longer cords.All my little outdoor friends and I have been so happy with this heater, I ordered a second one as a backup. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in making sure their outdoor friends have a nice drink of water throughout the cold and sometimes bitter winter.December, 2022 Update: We had a huge arctic air mass, complete with 50+ mph winds pass through our area. Although it was BITTER COLD, this heater kept away the ice, much to the benefit of all the little creatures needing a drink, during the worst weather conditions imaginable. I'm so thankful for this heater, that keeps going and going, and going!!!!

Trying this new water/fountain heater out for first time. -3 degrees here in KC today! Snowing, frigid temperatures with that “Siberian Arctic Blast” we were warned about. Got everything ready, feeders stocked, Bluebird food and fruit, ready, water dish filled to bring with heating element running. Birds are eating and drinking, generally just hanging out by the food and water source on this exceptionally cold 🥶 few days.The heater is keeping water unfrozen at -3 below! I’ll update later since it’s supposed to drop even more to -6 by 1:00pm. There is about an inch’s worth of freezing on one edge of the fountain but shoot, the birds don’t seem to mind. Stay tuned.EDIT: it is 12:45pm, the temp went down to-5 below zero and the water is still unfrozen. There is a small part, an inche’s worth that froze but overall the birds continue to use the fountain.

This Heater really works! I bought it nearly three years ago and it has worked very well. But I always wondered if it would melt the ice if the temperature was below zero.Today we are having the coldest temperature for years, 10 degrees below zero and 55 mph wind, and the birds are happily drinking their ice-free water.This heater does a GREAT job even in bitter cold temperatures.

First off, this de-icer really works. Maybe a bit too well. During our first hard freeze, it kept the water in a liquid state just fine. I went out to check it the following day (air temp still below 32 degrees) and the water was actually warm to the touch. After another day I noticed the water level in the birdbath had dropped noticeably. Thinking some deer had stopped by for a drink the night before I thought little of it. Topped it off and went on my way. However, each & every day the water level was lower. OK, evaporation and deer drinking could account for this. Eventually, I concluded that the de-icer was, at least in part, the reason for the daily water loss. 150 watts is a lot of heat for a small birdbath, even at 10 degrees. If you get this de-icer, keep a close watch on the water level. Oh yeah, the cord is too short: 36 inches would be much better.

This is the only brand of heater I will buy. The one I bought this one to replace was at least 10 years old, and I have another one that I use occasionally, it has a manufacture date of 3/92 on it and it still works!

I live in Minnesota, and during the coldest days of winter this thing can’t keep up. It’s good in the teens with direct sunlight helping, but in the single digits not so much. In less than 20 degF in the shade, my small bird bath was still frozen. It’s metal and holds about 1 gallon of water. The heater is completely submerged. Maybe with two heaters it might work better, but then it gets kind of bulky. They should have a temperature recommendation on this.On top of not heating enough in very cold temperatures, the shiny surface peels off very easily. I haven’t even gotten through the end of the season yet and there are lots of flakes in the water. I don’t like the thought of the birds and squirrels ingesting it, and I don’t like pouring the flakes on the ground, but it’s hard to get them out otherwise.This is one of the few heaters that’s actually metal. I don’t want plastic. I may just give up and not use one. It’s fine on warmer winter days above 20 degF, if you don’t mind flakes in your water. But when it’s colder than that, it’s a waste of electricity.