Since we're away from home for a couple weeks at a time during the winter, can you tell me if it will harm the birdbath if all the water evaporates?
1727136
I have had my birdbath for many years, and it has sat dry many times, and the heating element still works.
1727137
I believe the instructions say that the heater will shut off if there is no water in the bowl. Mine has dried up a couple of times or been turned over by a bathing raccoon and it hasn't harmed the unit.
1727138
It shouldn't because the birdbath has a thermostat in it and should automatically shut off.
1727139
We leave for 2 weeks as well and are always concerned about the water level. We have someone come in and fill it as it evaporates quickly in the winter. The birds need water more than seed. Our feeders run dry almost immediately which saddens us but there is nothing we can do about that. The short answer is I don't know having never allowed it to happen.
426460
We haven't allowed the birdbath to dry up, so I'm not sure of the consequences. But I do know that the enclosed instructions caution against letting that happen.
1407299
If it is a grounded outdoor cord (3prongs) don't worry about the snow. It will be fine on the ground. I wrap a little insulating tape around the plug to prevent water from getting in to the connection between the bird bath and the extension cord.
1378574
I too have a shallow bird bath. I try to keep it submerged but winter evaporation often exposes the top (heater has 3/4" depth). I would not let bird bath run totally out of water because the thermostat will probably keep it running constantly trying to heat the air. Unplug if you are going to be gone for days. Mine has kept running fine for 3 years.
18863
So far, in Oklahoma, the bird bath has held up. We have had tempsin the single digits but not for long periods, only a few days. We purchsed it summer of 2013.
358793
The water will get warm enough to keep from freezing,though you must not ignore for days due to evaporation.Also keep clean for the birds just like you do in the summer time that algae will form in this.I use a capful of bleach in a gallon of water in a milk jug & store at room temp to keep from freezing.Good luck & enjoy your feathered friends!
1187268
I don't really know for sure, but I bet the unit is on all the time. We unplug it when the weather is above freezing, which is not much of a hardship, as the birdbath requires near daily care to keep it filled and cleaned, so plugging it in at the beginning of winter and unplugging it in the spring is not a big deal. That said, we have freezing temps all winter and you might not in your area.
2235227
I only used it in the winter to stop water from freezing in the bird bath, so I don't know.
1014358
To be honest I don't know. It has been well below -30 degrees here for weeks at a time and the bird bath still worked although the birds were in no mood to bathe then. :) I keep my bird bath close to the house and out of the wind so maybe that helps? Also make sure you have the proper power cord with it. Good luck!!
2080264
I have mine in a shallow bird bath, probably about 4 inches of water. When it is really cold, there is just a small opening that does not freeze, probably about 6 inches which is fine with me as the birds can get a drink. I keep the heater over next to the edge and weigh it down. It is really cheap to operate because it doesn't thaw a larger area I guess, not enough heat? When the weather is not that cold, I have a much larger area available. I think you would probably have better luck if your water is not too deep. Hope this helps.
836694
I've not taken the temp of the heated water. I don't know what birds can tolerate but none of them seem to have a problem. We've had maybe a total of 10 days below freezing this winter and a few of those had lows in the teens. That's really cold for us. Because I have a shallow bird bath, I didn't give a second thought to adding water ever day. Evaporation due to the heater? Maybe a luttle bit.
367415
Hi Nafeesa, This really is a lovely birdbath, but I wouldn't leave water in it if the temperatures are below freezing. The ceramic can crack. I will sometimes put water in during the day and empty it out at about sundown. Hope this helps!
733518
We live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so we don't get snow. We haven't had much rain either. It's only a few inches deep so the roof overhang extends further out than the bird feeder. The birds in the neighborhood go through our seed quickly so we add to it frequently and clean it out every couple of weeks.
757639
No. The heating element isn't super hot. It is just warm, and leaving it empty won't ruin the birdbath; however, the birds much prefer if you keep refilling the birdbath, as they love it. We see downy woodpeckers and nuthatches among all the others that stop by for a drink and a bath. The last visitors of the day are always the cardinals.
18862
Unfortunately, I live in the Tampa Bay region of Florida. I cannot tell you about winter temps, but we did have a hummingbird Burley Clay bird bath that had the dish split in two. It had been knocked down twice and this time, when it was knocked over, it split through on of the earlier chips. I think it was caused by the fox which lives near here. The Cardinal baths haven't had a problem since they have a locking mechanism.
640708
It's not waterproof , when it rains it gets wet . If you don't wantthat hang it inside your house , the birdseed will last longer too .
1338364
I'm sorry I can't answer the question. Bless your heart! I'm just incredibly happy Oklahoma doesn't experience that kind of weather! We HAVE had a few days below freezing and the bird bath (abt 1-1/2 gals) had no ice. Apparently the water was even warm enough for the Eastern Bluebirds to bathe.