The Truth about Electric Blanket Pre-Heat
Which electric blanket has the fastest pre-heating? Which electric mattress pads heat
the fastest? This is often the first question people ask us when searching for new heated bedding. But, this feature may not be as important as it seems. In our opinion you should not give up some other features just in order to get one with the quickest pre-heating. Why?
Holding all other items constant (for example, the addition of a comforter over your heating blanket or mattress cover), your bed warmth depends on the amounts of time and the wattage (the measure of heat) supplied by the heating blanket. So, basic science tells us that, if you want to shorten the time it takes to warm your bed, you must increase the wattage. Electric blanket and electric mattress pad pre-heating works by energizing the product at a higher wattage (heat level) during the pre-heat period before switching itself to the normal heat level. But you need to know that by turning on any warming blanket or warming mattress pad that does not have the pre-heat feature a few minutes earlier, you can accomplish the same warm bed at an identical cost of electricity.
Aside from knowing about the pre-heat feature, here are some important questions to ask yourself when selecting an automatic blanket or mattress pad:
• Is the product safe?
• Is the product comfortable?
• Is the product easy to take care of?
• Is this a high quality product that will last more than a couple of years?
• What features will I need or want?
• How much should the initial price influence my decision?
• As we always preach, be sure to get the heated blanket that is the right one FOR YOU.
Focusing on only one feature among many could mean that you are compromising the quality or features of the product that you buy, or you are over-paying when you might have gotten a product more suited for yourself.
Ready to Buy?
If you wish to purchase one of our favorite products, visit our affiliate store, Above & Beyond Bedding staffed by industry veterans since 1989.
OR see our list of retailers carrying each major brand of Heated Electric Blankets.
OR see our list of retailers carrying each major brand of Heated Electric Mattress Pads.