The blankets will trap the heat in the mattress so that the entire bed will feel warm when you get in. Even after you turn the heat off, you may feel the warmth for up to an hour, giving you plenty of time to fall asleep. Most electric blankets feature a similar design—a long, heat-producing wire is stitched throughout the innermost layer. Because these wires must be thin to keep the blanket soft and flexible, they are fairly susceptible to damage.
So, the first step to electric blanket maintenance is to handle them with care. Even if you've been gentle, it's important to inspect your blanket carefully before plugging it in. Look for tears, exposed wires, or scorch marks and discard the blanket if you see any signs of damage.
It's usually not worth the risk of using an electric blanket that has been patched up. When storing one of these blankets, don't fold it because the creases may cause the wires to break. Many electric blankets also come with timers that can be pre-set to switch off. What types of blankets are there?
The most common type is the electric under-blanket, which sits under your fitted sheet. However, there are also over-blankets, which sit on top of your doona and maintain a constant temperature all night. There are even heated throws for your couch, which could minimise or eliminate the need for a heater in your lounge room. What should I look for when buying one?
Make sure the blanket has an overheat protection sensor to switch it off if it gets too hot, plus a control with raised markings for handling in the dark. Fitted blankets are more convenient than those with string ties, and a fleecy blanket should be more comfortable than a thinner one.
Select one with a high energy efficiency rating. Are electric blankets safe? This is the perfect room temperature for sleep and you can make your bed warm and comfortable with the use of an electric underblanket.
The Body's Temperature at a Glance. To choose the best way to keep warm, you have to understand how the body regulates its own temperature. The best ways to protecting yourself from cold exposure involve complementing your own natural temperature regulation.
Sweating and Shivering. While your body will resort to these by necessity, you should do what yo ucan to not have to rely on them. Sweating can leave you dehydrated if left unchecked. Shivering hampers your movements and will tire you out eventually. Do what you can to keep from getting to the point where these are needed. Daily Cycles. Your body temperature goes through natural highs and lows throughout the day. Your temperature will generally be higher during the day. Meanwhile, your body temperature drops when your body is preparing for sleep.
When your body temperature drops in preparation of sleep, you become especially vulnerable to cold exposure. Warming the Hearth. Of course, there are some drawbacks. Heating a room or several either involves spending on power or investing in new furnishings; sometimes both. Fully outfitting a room requires a higher budget to carry out. Space Heaters. Centralized heating is, of course, the most comprehensive way to warm an indoor space.
For most personal uses, however, it can be excessive. Space heaters, which are built with a variety of sizes and heating methods, are more cost-effective for heating individual rooms.
Space heaters can be a fire hazard , though. An article from Merseyside fire and rescue service in United Kingdom shows in , there were incidents, causing 47 deaths and non-fatal injuries. The risk of fatality is high at 11 per 1, incidents and the risk of injury is per 1, incidents. When you use a space heater to keep your home warm, you should be extra careful. Room Dressing. If you can dress your body for warmth, you can do the same for your room.
By covering up the places where heat escapes windows, doors, etc. Think heavy curtains and something to cover up the gap under your door—pool noodles or rugs should do the trick; just move them out of the way when you need to use the door. Keeping one body warm is usually easier than warming up an entire room, so these options are good for nearly any situation. Those parts of your body have a lot of surface area compared to mass, which means they lose heat faster.
But this also means that covering them up stops you from losing a lot of heat. Hats work like this too, which is especially useful if your head is sensitive to cold.
Even as you cover up your extremities, remember to keep your torso properly insulated, too. Depending on the sort you get, heat pads might get their heat from hot water, from other heat sources, or from an internal mechanism. This is why we have items designed to keep us warm at night, such as blankets and certain linens. The most effective item in this category is the electric blanket. Electric blankets use both insulation and heat generation to provide warmth and comfort while remaining energy-efficient.
The latest electric blankets use the same basic principles as the first ones did, but have been refined to be even better at what they do. The basic principle of electric blankets is an electric current passing through a resistive wire generates heat.
Most of the mainstream electric bedding contains a long length of resistive wire heating element fastened in a serpentine pattern throughout the pad or blanket.
Because blankets insulate by design, the heat remains trapped inside, where the user is. Of course, to maintain comfort, safety, and even heating throughout, there are a few more design principles at work. Manufacturers use various materials and mechanisms to incorporate other features like overheat protection, variable heat output, auto-shutoff, and more.
These things improve ease of use, comfort, and safety, among other things. Types of Electric Blankets. There are two types of electric blankets: overblankets and underblankets. It may come as a surprise that there exist two types, partly because not all manufacturers or stores use these terms.
They go over the body and so, just like conventional blankets, they keep heat—both body heat and the heat they generate—from escaping upward and outward. However, because electric blankets are exposed on one side, that means some of the heat they generate is lost. The less-known underblanket, meanwhile, is sometimes called the heated mattress pad or electric fitted sheet.
As those names imply, this type has a fitted skirt that clings to the mattress, holding it in place between you and your bed. These types are overlooked enough that some people think it a lifehack to slip your electric overblanket under a fitted sheet. Underblankets provide their heat from below. Because of this, all the heat of an underblanket remains trapped: below, by the mattress; on top, by your blanket or duvet You get more heat retention with an underblanket.
One notable feature among the latest electric blankets is 4D Temperature Technology. Unlike ordinary flexible heating products that are only warm when your skin is in direct contact with them, products with 4D temperature technology can deliver warmth more efficiently to create comfortable temperature around you.
By using specially designed 4D circular holes, heat circulates within every 4 holes to form an independent matrix, greatly increases the fabric breathability. Each independent matrix is then connected to one another so warmth is retained effectively.
As heat release from the circular holes, it combines with humid cold air, forming a comfortable warmth flow. The result is a product that provides better warmth, comfort, and breathability.
Although manufacturers try to set themselves apart, there are a few features you can be sure electric blankets will possess. These distinguish them from other heating products and guarantee the benefits you get from using them.
Energy Efficency. Every electric blanket has a different wattage, and the higher it is, the more it costs to run. In general, though, electric blankets are not expensive to run. With the use of an electric underblanket, even when it becomes too cold during winter, you can still turn down your central heating a few degrees.
A first-rate electric blanket is a worthwhile investment. High-quality electric blankets last for several years when cleaned and stored properly. A well-made blanket heats evenly and can be set to shut off after a certain amount of time, minimizing the risk of injuries, fires, or electrical damage.
There are several certifying bodies for electric blanket safety, which we talk more about in the next section. Comfort is a major concern in electric blanket design.
Electric blankets are made in a variety of materials and with the capacity for different temperatures. This ensures that you can find a model that suits your preferences. On top of that, electric blankets can help in regulating humidity. Because of the way they warm the air, electric blankets can reduce humidity in the area they cover i.
Leaving an underblanket running for a few hours each day can even reduce the presence of dust mites. When reducing dust mites, your electric blanket temperature needs to surpass 60 degrees and you should turn it on for more than 1 hour.
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