STOCK TANK DEICER FAQs

1. Why won't my deicer turn on when I plug it in?
All API deicers contain a thermostat and will not turn on until the temperature drops to the mid-40s. To test your deicer, place it into a freezer for 15-20 minutes then remove it and plug it in. It should turn on.

2. Water freezes at 32°F. Why does the deicer turn on in the 40° range and not in the mid 30s?
As water cools it get denser and sinks to the bottom of the tank, but once the temperature drops below 40°F, water actually gets lighter and remains at the surface. Thus, the surface can get colder and start freezing even though the water just a few inches below the surface is still at 40°. Therefore, to make sure the deicer protects the tank, all deicers are set to turn on above 40°F.

3. Why does the water heat up so much?
The hysteresis (difference between the on and off temperatures) for a bi-metal thermostat such as those used in the deicer is around 15° Fahrenheit. Thus, the turn-off temperature will be around 15° higher than the turn-on temperature. However, the deicer is designed to heat up the water and then turn off and wait until the water cools down again, thus the higher temperature is compensated by the longer time that the deicer is actually turned off. This operation is actually desirable to ensure that heat reaches all parts of the stock tank before the deicer turns off.

4. I see steam coming off the water. Is the deicer malfunctioning?
No. What you see is water vapor from evaporation that condenses due to the cooler air. Even though the water in the stock tank may feel warm on a cool day, it is much too cold to produce steam.

5. Will a 1250 watt cast aluminum deicer out-perform a 1500 watt traditional deicer?
No. The only detail that matters in keeping a stock tank ice-free is to put more heat into the tank than is lost to the atmosphere. Embedding the heating element in aluminum makes no difference in total heat delivered to the water or efficiency.

6. Will I save money using a lower wattage deicer?
No. All deicers typically use the same thermostat settings. Using a lower wattage means that the deicer will not draw as much electricity when it is on, but it will stay on longer to heat the water to the same temperature. For example, a 1500 watt deicer might stay on 30% of the time (30% duty cycle) to keep a stock tank ice-free, while a 1000 watt deicer in the same tank would stay on 45% of the time. The higher wattage deicer is actually the most efficient.

7. I saw a temperature chart that says I should use a lower wattage deicer for my region but you're saying I should use a higher wattage one. Why should I select higher wattage?
Temperature charts are based on average temperature readings. Thus, in a region where the low temperature is +30°F on two nights and 0°F for the next two nights, the average low temperature is +15°F as would be indicated on the chart. But while a 500 watt deicer might keep the water in a 100-gallon tank open on the first two nights, the tank will freeze on the second two nights and possibly split the tank. In addition, those temperature charts do not take into account wind chill which also affects deicer performance since wind increases heat loss from the tank.

8. If the higher wattage is more efficient, why would I ever use a lower wattage?
A 1500 watt deicer draws 12.5 amps when it is on, therefore, only one can be run on a 15 or 20 amp circuit. However, two 1000 watt deicers could be run on a 20 amp circuit since each deicer only draws 8.3 amps.

9. How do I clean the deicer?
Mineral buildup is common on deicers since particulates precipitate out of the water. You should use a stiff brush (not a wire brush) to clean elements as needed. Mineral buildup will reduce heat flow and cause the element to get hotter at that point which could cause the element to burst. The elements on API deicers are stainless steel or aluminum encased rods. You can use any cleaning fluids that could normally be used on stainless steel or aluminum.

10. Do I need to use a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)?
You should always use a GFCI any time you have electricity around water.

11. My animals appear to be getting shocked when they try to drink. Is the deicer defective?
Probably not. The most common cause of shocking is due to a stray voltage on the ground wire of the electrical system providing power to the deicer. To solve the problem, use a 3-to-2 prong adapter (available from any hardware store) on the deicer plug to isolate the deicer from the electrical system ground and then run a 16 gauge (or larger) wire from the ground tab on the adapter to a metal ground rod or metal pipe sticking out of the ground. This will effectively isolate the stock tank from the ground wire with the stray voltage while also giving the deicer its own separate ground. Contact Allied Precision if you need assistance with animals being shocked.

12. How can I tell if the deicer is actually defective or not?
You can always test a deicer by placing it into a freezer for 15-20 minutes to turn on the thermostat. Meanwhile, run some water into a bathroom sink next to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet. Remove the deicer from the freezer and place it into the water and then, without touching the water, plug it into the GFCI outlet. If the unit trips the GFCI, it is defective and should be returned to the place of purchase if under warranty. If it does not trip the GFCI, the unit is operating properly.

13. Will the deicer shut off if removed from the water?
The deicer is thermostatically protected to shut off before it gets too hot to cause damage. When removed from water, the unit will heat up and then shut itself off. It will then cool down until it approaches 40°F at which time it will turn on again and heat up and then shut itself off. It will continue to cycle in this manner.

14. Do I need to use a guard on my traditional deicer (with a calrod heating element)?
You will always need to use a guard on a traditional deicer when used in a plastic stock tank or in a pond. See the instructions to determine if you need a guard for a cast aluminum heating element.

15. Why does it say "Do Not Use Extension Cords?"
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) standards require the statement "Do Not Use Extension Cords" to be on all deicer products. However, API products are UL approved for use with our patented LOCKNDRY® detachable power supply cord which is available at most stores that handle our products. The LOCKNDRY cord provides a secure, water-resistant connection for safe operation of API deicers.

16. How large a stock tank or pond will a deicer keep open?
There is no way to really answer this question since it depends on a variety of factors. How cold is it? How fast is the wind blowing? Is the tank insulated? How much water surface area is exposed? If you have a 15 amp service and need to keep open at least 75 gallons of water, a 1500 watt deicer is the most economical.

17. How can I reduce my electric bill?
The duty cycle for a 1500 watt deicer in a 100 gallon stock tank at 0°F with no wind is around 35%. So assuming electricity in your area costs $0.10 per kilowatt-hour, the cost for 30 days of operation would be $37.80. Wind, however, plays a huge role in heat loss so anything you can do to block the wind or insulate the tank or covering part of the water surface will help to reduce electric costs.

18. How does the TCO35 help reduce electric costs?
On days when the temperature is below 40° but above 32°, the deicer will run even though the water would not freeze anyway. This is because the deicer has to be set to turn on above 40°F in order to keep the tank ice-free (see FAQ #2 above). The TCO35 is a Temperature Controlled Outlet that uses a microprocessor to monitor the air temperature. It plugs into any electrical outlet, and then the deicer—or other device—is plugged into it. The TCO35 is programmed to turn on at 35°F and off at 37°F thereby preventing the deicer from operating unless the air temperature drops below 35°F. Other air temperature monitors on the market operate with a thermostat that may turn on at 35°F but will not turn off again until the temperature is around 50°. Thus, on days when the temperature doesn't climb out of the 40s, those devices create no savings.

POND FAQs

1. Why do I need a deicer in my pond?
During the winter when a pond is covered by ice, harmful gases build up in the water due to decaying matter and fish waste. In order to protect the fish, a hole should be kept open to allow the gases to escape from the water.

2. How large a hole do I need to keep open?
Actually, a small hole a few inches in diameter would probably be sufficient for most backyard ponds.

3. Do I need to use a guard with my deicer in a pond?
Except for the cast aluminum pond deicers, a guard should always be used with traditional calrod deicers when operated in a pond in order to keep the deicer from contacting the earth or a pond liner.

4. Should I use a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) with my pond deicer?
Yes, absolutely. Minerals in the pond water will corrode any heating element. Over time, a small hole could develop and leak electricity into the water. A GFCI is essential in protecting the fish or animals from any stray current.

5. Isn't it expensive to operate a deicer in a pond?
Because of the much greater volume of water in a typical pond, and much great heater loss associated with it, a deicer may run all the time when placed in a pond. This can create a large electric bill, especially over the course of a winter. Allied Precision offers a lower operating cost solution with the Pond Breather®.

6. What is a Pond Breather?
The Pond Breather from Allied Precision is an economical alternative to operating a deicer in a pond. The Pond Breather is designed to freeze into the ice. A pump suspended below the unit pumps water up through a tube to a point several inches above the ice where it exits the tube inside a clear cylinder. The water falls back down into the pond through the center of the Pond Breather but it releases its dissolved gasses when it contacts the air inside the cylinder. A heat coil inside the cylinder provides only enough heat to keep the water from freezing during this process. The Pond Breather operates at a miserly 40 watts of power compared to 1000 watts or more for most pond deicers.

7. How long is the cord on pond deicers?
The cord on our pond deicers is 15 feet.

HEATED BIRD BATH FAQs

1. Why doesn't my bird bath get warm when I plug it in?
Allied Precision heated bird baths are thermostatically controlled to turn on when the temperature approaches 40°F. If the air or water temperature is warmer than that, they will not turn on.

2. What happens if my birth bath runs dry?
The thermostat in the heated bird bath will shut off the heater once the basin starts to get too warm. It will remain off while the bird bath cools down to around 40°, when the heater will turn on and cycle again.

3. What can I use to clean my bird bath?
Any dishwashing liquid or lime-removing products should work fine on your birdbath.