Proactively replacing heaters

[morganatlanta]

Since it seems that heaters are one of the most common items to fail, and can fail badly, I'm wondering if it makes sense to proactively replace them every couple years.

I've got two 200W Theo heaters on my 125G reef. They are on an Apex controller, so I'm not concerned about them overheating the tank, but I am concerned about them stopping working while I'm out of town and the house is at 65 degrees, and concerned about them cracking and putting current into the tank, blowing the GFI and shutting everything down.

Both heaters are about three years old, so does it make sense to swap them out?

 

[grouper therapy]

It does to me. For the cost to loss ratio it makes perfect sense. IMO I have titanium heaters that have served me well for 3 years and may have went longer but I chose to replace. I think too much cycling is what kills most heaters. The new controllers that can be programmed for .5 degree change will fry a heater.

 

[skriz]

Yep, I've been doing this for a decade now. As Grouper said, the cost to loss ratio makes it a no brainer.

I only use ebo jager heaters. They've proven to be the best; i have one that's been working well for over 8 years now (using for heating sw vat).

 

[jef4y]

Yep, makes perfect sense and 3 yrs is about all I'd keep a heater.

 

[ichthyoid]

I agree that it makes sense, assuming you use a 'quality brand'.

Poor QA by a manufacturer will blow a big hole in this theory (not to mention your wallet)!

Thermostats work by using a bi-metallic switch. We all know what happens to a Coke can after you bend it 'so many times'!


Also-
I finally beat Raj at something...I have an Ebo-Jaeger from 1986 that still works...woot!