Problems with heat pads

[Simon David kelly]

Hi,

I've been using a heat pad with a timer to warm my starter over the past few days. I have a towel folded on top of the pad, but the starter still managed to hit 37 degrees.

Questions I have are, will this have killed the yeast and how do people use the pads if they're going to raise the temp that high when only on for 15 minutes in every hour?

Cheers

Si

[JoKing]

She might be fairly mutated by now (if it's a lager) - but I'd still pitch it. I wouldn't re-use the yeast after this fermentation though.

Yeast loves it at 35 degrees... the beer it makes at that temp is disgusting, but the yeast is still happy. If you ferment your beer at its recommended temp range, it should be fine. Just make sure you give it the appropriate diacetyl rest at 20 - 25 degrees.

[Simon David kelly]

Nice one. Thanks Joking.

I feared I'd done the lot in :(

[MrC]

I don't use heat pads, I prefer to put it in the bath and slowly change the temp of the water around it.

I've heard of people using heat pads and putting some kind of packing between the heat pad and the fermenter (floppy disks if I remember correctly). The little air space decreases the effect of the heat pad.

[Simon David kelly]

I've got a couple of 10mm strips of wood to go under. I'll see how this goes and maybe put a blanket around 2/3 of the base if it needs more heat.

[Michael]

Si,

I have ruined a batch once by heating my beer way too much with a heating pad. As such, I took the advice of a few people on this forum, and did just as you are planning.

I usually use a double cdrom case on both sides, this drops the temp to around 18 to 22 depending on the warmth of the room. My current batch started at 18, and as the fermentation got rocking, it increased to somewhere between 22 and 24. Since it is an ale, I imagine it will be ok with this temp.

I found that if I am brewing a lager, and using S23, it really puts out the sulfur odor if the temps get to about 24. As such, I normally do not use a heat pad at all when brewing a lager, and take the chance on the yeast slowing down if it gets very cold that night. (I know that lagers tend to put a sulfur odor whilst brewing, but this was ridiculous.)

The idea of putting the fermenter in water sounds great. Unfortunately, my wife would likely take exception to the family not being able to bathe for a couple weeks. ;)

[Simon David kelly]

The two blocks of wood seem to be working ok. It's at around 22-24 so I've knocked the heat pad back to 15 minutes every 2 hours.

will be investing in a tempMate next pay day :o)

[Karle]

For my yeast starters I usually use a little bedside lamp to warm them. I put the starter in an empty bucket (don't have a stir plate) and put the lamp above it so it keeps it warm. It works well with my lamp, works out to be around 25 degrees.

I use a heat pad for my fermenter. I haven't had any problems with that. It is usally enough to put the heat pad on for 2 hours in the evening and 1hour in the morning before I go to work. Depening on room temps of course.

[Nolen Smith]

I use a heat pad standing on it's edge against the wall of a small cupboard - next to, but not touching, the fermenter. So, it's just keeping the ambient air temp heated. I've never actually measured the air temp, I just keep an eye on the fermenter temp reading. In the winter, I keep the heat pad on all night and usually turn it off during the day. I can usually keep the temp between 18 and 22 by doing this, but I imagine it has a lot to do with the size of the cupboard, etc.

I have a cheap wine fridge that I can just fit my fermenter in. It says you can control the temp between something like 7C and 22C. Not sure I'll be able to lager with it, but it should give me good control over the ales. I'll ferment my next brew in it and see how it goes. (Sorry, on the verge of a thread jack there).