Comments on: Homemade Worm Bin Heater http://wormcompostingblog.com/worm-compost-bins/homemade-worm-bin-heater/ Home of Organic Worm Farm. Worm composting, red wriggler worms, worm bins, raising red worms and more. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:24:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Bruce http://wormcompostingblog.com/worm-compost-bins/homemade-worm-bin-heater/comment-page-1/#comment-449 Bruce Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:54:32 +0000 http://wormcompostingblog.com/?p=104#comment-449 Chuck You can mix worms however over time, one or more may become the lone survivors due to more favorable environmental conditions favoring one worm over another. This appears to be what has happened with your worms here since the red wigglers and European nightcrawlers can tolerate much cooler temperatures. I do not have anything more but the picture below for the worm heater in action. You can see the input and output lines in the upper left hand corner of the worm bin. This is one of the European nightcrawler bins which I am running one of the heaters since the building is block wall and shaded by numerous 100 year old plus oak trees. The highest temperature I have recorded to date is 73 degrees even though it was 91 degrees outside before all the leaves filled in on the trees. Currently the temperature within this building resides between mid fifties to mid sixties. Hence why I have the heater running. <img src="http://wormcompostingblog.com/images/heater-hose.jpg" alt="Worm bin heater in action" /> You only need to run the hose back and forth being careful not to pinch the line and cover with bedding material to hold it in place. The drawer system would make it more difficult but not impossible since you would be sliding the drawers open and shut.... Bruce Chuck

You can mix worms however over time, one or more may become the lone survivors due to more favorable environmental conditions favoring one worm over another. This appears to be what has happened with your worms here since the red wigglers and European nightcrawlers can tolerate much cooler temperatures.

I do not have anything more but the picture below for the worm heater in action. You can see the input and output lines in the upper left hand corner of the worm bin. This is one of the European nightcrawler bins which I am running one of the heaters since the building is block wall and shaded by numerous 100 year old plus oak trees. The highest temperature I have recorded to date is 73 degrees even though it was 91 degrees outside before all the leaves filled in on the trees. Currently the temperature within this building resides between mid fifties to mid sixties. Hence why I have the heater running.

Worm bin heater in action

You only need to run the hose back and forth being careful not to pinch the line and cover with bedding material to hold it in place.

The drawer system would make it more difficult but not impossible since you would be sliding the drawers open and shut….

Bruce

]]> By: Chuck http://wormcompostingblog.com/worm-compost-bins/homemade-worm-bin-heater/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Chuck Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:08:38 +0000 http://wormcompostingblog.com/?p=104#comment-400 Hi Bruce, I would like to see an example picture of the tubing in a worm bin like the four drawer system or whatever it is that you use it in. I think I lost all of my African Nightcrawlers I ordered from you. I believe it was because it got to cold in the bin. I had them in a Worm Factory system with some European Nightcrawlers and Red Wigglers. They seem to be doing fine. Is it okay to have the Africans in with the others? Thanks, Chuck Hi Bruce, I would like to see an example picture of the tubing in a worm bin like the four drawer system or whatever it is that you use it in. I think I lost all of my African Nightcrawlers I ordered from you. I believe it was because it got to cold in the bin. I had them in a Worm Factory system with some European Nightcrawlers and Red Wigglers. They seem to be doing fine. Is it okay to have the Africans in with the others?
Thanks,
Chuck

]]> By: Bruce http://wormcompostingblog.com/worm-compost-bins/homemade-worm-bin-heater/comment-page-1/#comment-366 Bruce Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:44:45 +0000 http://wormcompostingblog.com/?p=104#comment-366 Michael Well there are some variables that come into play such as how cold the area you live in gets during the winter... Where the worm bin is stored.... But basically it was designed to handle an 18 gallon Rubbermaid style bin but could go larger under some adjustments in some areas. For example by building a box to house the 5 gallon bucket and insulate it to enable it to hold a more constant temperature while heating the temperature higher... Another nice feature I have not touched on is the summer time. One could remove the heating element, bury the five gallon bucket up to a few inches from the top of it and run cool water to help keep the worm bin cooler during the hotter months. One thing to consider is that while using for cooling there will proabably be more condensation build up withing the worm bin. Bruce Michael

Well there are some variables that come into play such as how cold the area you live in gets during the winter… Where the worm bin is stored…. But basically it was designed to handle an 18 gallon Rubbermaid style bin but could go larger under some adjustments in some areas. For example by building a box to house the 5 gallon bucket and insulate it to enable it to hold a more constant temperature while heating the temperature higher…

Another nice feature I have not touched on is the summer time. One could remove the heating element, bury the five gallon bucket up to a few inches from the top of it and run cool water to help keep the worm bin cooler during the hotter months. One thing to consider is that while using for cooling there will proabably be more condensation build up withing the worm bin.

Bruce

]]> By: Michael http://wormcompostingblog.com/worm-compost-bins/homemade-worm-bin-heater/comment-page-1/#comment-365 Michael Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:08:13 +0000 http://wormcompostingblog.com/?p=104#comment-365 Very interesting. This looks like a great idea. How big of a compost bin should this handle? Very interesting. This looks like a great idea. How big of a compost bin should this handle?

]]> By: Bruce http://wormcompostingblog.com/worm-compost-bins/homemade-worm-bin-heater/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Bruce Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:52:42 +0000 http://wormcompostingblog.com/?p=104#comment-249 Hello Linda, The water gets heated within the five gallon bucket which simply sits beside your worm bin, not inside it. The water leaves the bucket through the extra length of hose which is run back and forth within the bottom of the worm bin. The water then returns through the hose to the five gallon bucket to be reheated. Hope that helps to clarify. Bruce Hello Linda,

The water gets heated within the five gallon bucket which simply sits beside your worm bin, not inside it. The water leaves the bucket through the extra length of hose which is run back and forth within the bottom of the worm bin. The water then returns through the hose to the five gallon bucket to be reheated.

Hope that helps to clarify.

Bruce

]]> By: Linda http://wormcompostingblog.com/worm-compost-bins/homemade-worm-bin-heater/comment-page-1/#comment-247 Linda Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:38:47 +0000 http://wormcompostingblog.com/?p=104#comment-247 Hi, I'm unclear about this heater. I know the white bucket goes inside the blue bucket, but does the blue bucket then go into your worm bin. How big of a worm bin do you need to use this heater? thanks Linda . Hi,
I’m unclear about this heater. I know the white bucket goes inside the blue bucket, but does the blue bucket then go into your worm bin. How big of a worm bin do you need to use this heater?
thanks
Linda
.

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