Heated pet water dish...the best!!!!!

[Fuddy1952]

Over the years I bought several heated pet water bowls. They use a lot of current, they're expensive and don't last. I decided to make my own a couple years ago. After a few trials, this works perfectly.
You need a Sterilite box (plastic box from dollar store, about 8"x 14", 6"ht.
Bundt cake pan (large, dollar store or Wal-Mart)
Ceramic light socket
A.C. cord, caulk, bungee cord, light bulb

The light bulb/socket goes up inside pan.
Socket held in with bungee cord.
Box top cut for pan, caulk in place. Small hole in top for cord. Snap top on box.
That's all there is to it...except fill with water. I used a 28W (40watt equivalent) halogen bulb...most any incandescent bulb works just so it gets warm.
Advantage is it doesn't go bad or give trouble. Bulbs are cheap if it burns out. And it serves as a night light.

 

[oosik]

Very nice. My big 'ol lumbering Chocolate Lab puppy either drinks water in the house or out of my lake. It won't be long until he won't be drinking lake water. We are starting to freeze up already.

 

[AllDodge]

I've had one like this for about 10 years and it still works.

Farm Innovators Round Heated Pet Bowl, 6 qt. at Tractor Supply Co.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I've had one like this for about 10 years and it still works.

Farm Innovators Round Heated Pet Bowl, 6 qt. at Tractor Supply Co.

I had a few of those too. They either cracked or the heating element opened up.
They use 60 instead of 28 watts.

 

[radios1]

I had a few of those too. They either cracked or the heating element opened up.
They use 60 instead of 28 watts.

since theirs have a built in thermostat, that 60 W potential draw gets used less often than your design, which draws 28W 24/7, and could make the water too hot to safely drink!. also, in cold enough weather, it may freeze up from not enough heating, with that 28W heat source!.. things are designed a certain way for good reasons!..

 

[Code54]

I've had one like this for about 10 years and it still works.

Farm Innovators Round Heated Pet Bowl, 6 qt. at Tractor Supply Co.

Have the same one - bought it about 6 or 7 years ago and still going strong.

 

[Fuddy1952]

since theirs have a built in thermostat, that 60 W potential draw gets used less often than your design, which draws 28W 24/7, and could make the water too hot to safely drink!. also, in cold enough weather, it may freeze up from not enough heating, with that 28W heat source!.. things are designed a certain way for good reasons!..

I'm trying to help. It works well for me. Water too hot? Use a lower wattage bulb.
Want a thermostat? They're available too, and not expensive.
Yes, things are designed the way they are for a very good reason...planned obsolescence. Made to break.
It's a free country...use what you want.

 

[Jstpssng]

Very nice. My big 'ol lumbering Chocolate Lab puppy either drinks water in the house or out of my lake. It won't be long until he won't be drinking lake water. We are starting to freeze up already.

I didn't realize how much my dog drank until he spent the last 3 months on the disabled list. Almost a gallon per day, and that's when he wasn't doing anything!

 

[oosik]

Yes - I'd get a bigger water dish for my Lab but I'm hoping he learns to "drink" most of the water and not drool it all over the house. Oh, well, I mop up his water spills and the kitchen tile floor is always sparkling clean. Have to look at the bright side.............

And it's real hard to see all the crud, mud and ooze on a Chocolate Lab, after he visits the lake, until he rolls on the light beige living room carpet - HA.

Fuddy - a cautionary note - - keep an eye on the water dish and MAKE CERTAIN that your pet continues to use it. I had a submersible water tank heater in a horizontal plastic 55 gallon drum for the horse I once had. The day after I put the tank heater in the drum - the horse quit drinking the water. She would go up to drink - her lips would come close to the water - start quivering - she would back off.

Like an idiot I went out and stuck my hand in the water - nothing. Got out my Fluke - probe to ground - probe in the water - Fluke showed nothing.
She simply WOULD NOT drink out of the tank. I removed the tank heater and went out every morning with a ball bat - broke and removed the ice so she could drink. As soon as the tank heater was out of the tank - she drank like a camel.

Could have been that the water was warmer than she was use to or the unit made some tiny noise or whatever.

 

[Jstpssng]

I don't know why they feel they need to share that last mouthful. I use a 2 1/2 gallon water bucket which I found reduces the spillage.
I know what you mean about the dirt. I've seen the same thing when he's rolling around in the first snow of the season. And after I give him a bath there's nothing more important than finding something smelly to roll in.

There's enough fur in my vacuum cleaner to make another dog.