Fermenting saftey with electric blankets

[captin-ahab]

I know of many people on this site who use electric blankets wrapped around the fermentor to heat the mash to a good temp for the yeast to be happy. I know many of you will tell me you have been doing in for many years with no problems too, but it it really safe?

I have heard of quite a few house fires that have started with electric blankets being left on. After a while the blanket gets so hot that it melts the plastic and shorts itself out causing a fire. Over the years i have read about this in the paper more than once.

I talked to our local fire cheif who im friends with. He says, belive it or not, the number one most common thing that starts a house fire in our area is glade plug-ins. I guess they heat up so much it causes the plug it to get to hot at starts a fire up the wall. He also confirmed over the years that many electric blankets have started fires.

Its not just the blanket i am worried about. If the mash boils over or blows the air lock it will then leak all over the electric blanket possibly causing a fire or at least a shock hazzard.

When we run the still we are always watching to keep a close eye on things........ but we ferment 24 hours a day and its often unattended.


Is this a problem i should be worried about...or am i thinking to hard here.