Block Heater Timer
Why You Should Consider Using A Block Heater Timer
In some parts of the United States and even many cities around the world at large, it’s easy to find cords dangling from the front hood of vehicles. Plugging in your car at dusk is just a usual part of the end-of-day routine particularly in the winter. But why do people need to plug in their vehicles in the first place, and how long does it really take a block heater to run?
Importance of a block heater with a timer
Recent research has shown that operation a block heater for a long period of time (longer than 4 hours prior to starting a vehicle) is basically a waste of energy. Since conditions are bound to stabilize, coolant temperature will only make a little increase (2 or 3 more degree Celsius) after this period regardless of the initial temperature.
The use of a block heater timer is quite essential particularly in regions with extremely cold weather as it helps to boost your chances of starting your car engine, as well as warming up the vehicle faster within a set period of time. All these are done to make it easier for a vehicle to start and to protect several of its parts and components.
Now, all you need to do is to plug in your vehicle and set the block heater timer just as you would do to the coffee timer before you go to bed. In most northern regions where temperatures often reach extremes, winter tires and block heaters are usually a most and cannot be overlooked as winter can be hard on any vehicle.
No doubt, you would surely need a block heater to keep your engine warm during such an extreme cold weather condition. But are there any benefits you stand to achieve when you use a block heater timer to warm your car? Of course, there are. Here are some of them.
Ensure quick warm up
Spending only a few seconds inside a cold vehicle cannot only be disappointing but also very frustrating. However, it’s good to know that a block heater can help your cabin draw in warm air almost instantly once you get it started in the cold morning, as it helps to warm up the engine coolant fluid. Though this has been very helpful, it is how long a vehicle should remain plugged in and when it should be done that really matters.
While it’s very common to find people plugging their vehicles every night in the winter, it is only recommended to do so when the temperature hits 15oC. Before starting your vehicle, your block heater will only require 4 hours to get your engine warmed up. Interestingly, there is no need to leave your block heaters on overnight wasting energy any longer when you can now set them to turn on a few hours before leaving the house. Thanks to the advent of block heater timers which can now be installed on heaters to regulate when they come up and go off.