Heater Safety and Life Expectancy (The Heater's Life, not Mine)

[punman]

I appreciate all of the responses. I was hoping to hear from a few more of you out there, as many people with a fish tank have a heater and thought everyone would have an opinion to at least one or two of my four questions.

 

[MrsE88]

I put my hands in my tanks all the time. I only unplug heaters when doing large water changes. So weekly. If I do a second smaller water change I won’t unplug as long as the water doesn’t pass the top cap on the heater. If the water line reaches the glass the heater get unplugged.

My tank with the sump I never unplug. It’s is kept fully submerged so there is no need.

I have bad luck with heaters it seems. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve replaced. Some in less then a year.

I really can’t say what wears them out faster. Perhaps having to run long periods without ever getting the tank to temp. Maybe that’s why mine die. In the winter my heaters have to work really hard to keep the temp up.