heater tips

[Leeds_Lad_Michael]

I bought the cheapest single electric blanket maybe 5 years ago from Argos, was about £8, just looked now and their cheapest is £12. Wrap it tightly around, insulate with a towel or similar and bang a timer on it if it's especially cold where you are brewing. I've also covered them with towels and left them pushed against the kitchen radiator but the missus doesn't like that idea so much.

[gobuchul]

20°C is a decent temperature for ale, way too high for lager.

I brew at 18°C for ale and 12°C for lager.

[orlando]

Nip a small hole in the top of the fermenter. Enough for the lead to clip into. Pop the fish tank heater into the brew and forget about it for 14 Days.

Too risky, you might get away with it for a while, but eventually cleaning and sanitation will reach a limit and you will compromise, or worse, lose a brew to infection. Trug & fish tank heater (go for 50 watt if fermenting any where that goes into single figures) or better still a brew fridge. If there is one thing you can't overdo, it's keeping everything clean/sanitised/sterilised.

[batey1963]

only lost 2 kits in 4 years. But you are right it does seem risky. I have heard of people covering the fermenter with a tea towel. Certainly no more risky than that.

[WalesAles]

I have heard of people covering the fermenter with a tea towel.

batey,
That must be a rather large tea towel!

WA