Kane Heated Dog Waterer  -  Frequently Asked Questions

I have heard that a heated waterer will improve the health of my dog.  Is this true? Yes.  Water is an essential component of your dog’s nutritional health.  Water is a key ingredient in the efficient digestion and utilization of food.  Outside dogs will naturally increase their food intake because they need more energy during the colder winter months.  More food means more water.  You will probably notice that there is less stool during the winter when your dog has an adequate supply of water at all times.

Will the waterer freeze up in low temperatures? We believe the Kane Heated Dog Waterer to be the best heated small animal drinker on the market – hands down.  When properly maintained this drinker will provide fresh water to your pet even at temperatures well below zero!  In our kennels, we have had this waterer operate at 20 degrees below zero and there was never even a skim of ice in the water tray.  No other heated small animal drinker that we know of can make this claim.

How do I fill this waterer? There is a small hole in the back of the water tray.  When filling the drinker, plug this hole with the ½-inch rubber stopper (provided) before opening the cover.  Remove the rubber stopper after the cover is replaced.  A small amount of water will flow out of the drinker until a sufficient vacuum is built to stop the overflow.  This is normal.  If water continues to drain from the drinking tray after several minutes, then tighten the cover a little more.  Be sure to not over tighten the cover.

The screw top cover is sometimes hard to remove.  What can I do about this? The rubber gasket on the inside of the cover will sometimes bind and make it difficult to unscrew and refill.  The secret is to keep this gasket well lubricated with petroleum jelly.  We do this a couple of times each month and it makes a huge difference. Also, it is not necessary to overly tighten the cover.  Just snug it up enough to provide an airtight seal and prevent water from leaking out of the drinking tray.  The petroleum jelly helps to establish the airtight seal.

I have noticed that the drinking tray is icing up.  What is the problem? First, check the electrical outlet to make sure you have power.  Plug is a light or some type of electrical tool to check the outlet.  If the outlet is good, then read on. We use our Kane Heated Waterer year round and find that over time the heating coil will build up with lime and mineral deposits.  You may not see a lot of buildup but it will be enough to reduce the efficiency of the coil to the point where not enough heat can transfer to the water to keep it ice free.  The solution is to empty the waterer and pour in a gallon of white vinegar (or a commercial de-liming product) to dissolve these deposits.  Let the solution stand overnight.  Drain and clean the waterer.  This will restore the heating coil to “like new” condition. If none of these steps appear to solve the problem, then please contact us.  The electrical system is straight forward and easy to trouble shoot.  We might add, however, that we have never seen nor heard of a unit failing in the field.  This is not to say that it cannot happen; just that we have never heard of it.

Can the Heated Dog Waterer be used year round? You bet.  The heating coil operates with a thermostat so that the coil will not energize in above freezing temperatures.  So using the waterer in the summer is not a problem.  It is a good idea, however, to simply unplug the unit during the warmer months when the heat is not required.

Does the Kane Heated Dog Waterer use a lot of electricity? This unit is surprisingly efficient.  First of all, the heating coil is thermostatically controlled so that it operates only when necessary.  Second, the drinking tray exposes only a very small quantity of water to the chilling effects of wind and temperature.  The bulk of the water is completely enclosed inside the drinker – away from the energy-robbing effects of wind chill.  The waterer operates at 175 watts; less power consumption than many household light bulbs. When used outside in the northern climates, you may notice snow accumulating on the top of the waterer.  This is a good indication of just how little heat is being lost to the outside.

Can the Kane Heated Dog Waterer be used with chickens and ducks? Yes, and it does the job very well.  The recessed drinking tray will prevent poultry from dirtying the water.  The large water reservoir will make the chore of watering your feathered charges much less frequent.  And, of course, this drinker will solve the problem of keeping fresh water available at all times - a very important consideration for your flock.