Worm Bin Heater Update

A couple years ago I wrote an article with pictures showing how you can make a simple worm bin heater. Since many have been asking how to keep their worms warm during the winter I thought now would be a good time to expand on this past article and how I modified a bit to insulate better, hence keeping the worm bin warmer.

The one issue with the worm bin heater in the past was the five gallon bucket containing the fish aquarium heater was not insulated hence a great variation of bedding temperatures. This was due primarily of the aquarium heater running around the clock trying to warm the water.

I have been monitoring the bedding temperatures for the last several weeks as this particular worm bin is located in an uncontrolled, drafty building. During milder temperatures, lows around forty-five or so and the highs in the mid to upper sixties, I have found the bed to maintain right around 64-65 degrees Fahrenheit.  During colder weeks down around thirty two degrees and highs around fifty to fifty five, the bedding has been maintaining a temperature right at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Worm Bin Temperature

I decided to include a few extra pictures for setting up the worm bin heater here, basically not shown in my previous article.

The first issue was to resolve the heater from over working. I thought about wrapping the five gallon bucket in insulation, however if it ever got wet, it would make a soggy mess. I then found a larger bucket which would fit the five gallon bucket easily allowing plenty of room. I proceeded to add a couple inches of dry Sphagnum Peat Moss on the bottom of the larger bucket prior to placing the five gallon bucket inside to help insulate the bottom. Next was to fill and slightly pack dry Sphagnum Peat Moss around the sides of the five gallon bucket to insulate the sides. I then placed a small piece of light wood, also could use plastic to help prevent evaporation through the top hole even though minimal and covered with an old beach towel to help insulate the top of the five gallon bucket.

Next displays how to spread out the worm bin heater hose throughout the bottom of your worm bin. For the sake of showing up in the picture, one would be better adding approximately one inch of bedding material prior to adding the heater hose.

Laying Out the Worm Bin Heater Hose

Next was to cover the worm bin heating hose with approximately six inches of bedding material followed by adding the worms on the surface of the bed.

Worm Bin with Worm Heater

Lastly was to cover while still allowing air to flow to assist in blocking any windy drafts from directly blowing on the worm bed surface area. Note the space allotted so as not to crush the worm bin heater hose as well as allow air flow.

Covered Worm Bin with Worm Heater