Aerotherm Heaters

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
Does anyone have any experience with the Aerotherm heaters? Considering a purchase and want to hear from others before I drop the dime.

https://aerothermheaters.com/store

alien-x-turbo_0.jpg
 
Can't speak to those. I use a 400 w sump heater for overnight heat and the sump heater plus two blow dryers through the cowl inlets if I'm looking for faster heat.

Might be worth looking at a cheaper solution than the aerotherms..,
 
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I use the Twin Hornet from Aircraft Heaters. I leave it inside the nose cowling with cowl pugs and blankets across the nose. Keeps the engine bay at about 70 degrees. Doesn't get hot, you can hold it in your hadn't going full blast. I've yet to have to cancel a flight because of a cold engine since I got this thing.
 
Most the planes I flew in Alaska had the Little Buddy mounted under the dash for inside heat while parked and plugged in. Cost quite a few dimes less than the Alien.

For the engine there was Tanis heaters on the engine case. In Alaska the Tanis heater plus engine blanket plus cowl plugs and in the morning the oil and cylinder fins were warm to the touch in -30f temperatures. I had one on my truck engine set on a timer to come on an hour before I would leave for work. Use the remote start to start it up about 15 minutes before leaving and come to a nice, warm cab.

Didn't work as well as a Herman Nelson though.
 
Typical 'airplane' item. $1000

Seems like a simple warm air blower could be produced for way less.
 
I appreciate the input on alternatives to the Aerotherm.... I already am aware of those.....

So want more input on the Aerotherm's versus getting info I already know.
 
Holy balls that thing is expensive!

You can build your own from stuff from the hardware store for like $60, might take another couple minutes to preheat, but meh, I just fire the heaters off and get a nice breakfast, when I get back its all warm. Or get a wifi or cell phone switch.


$700+ seems like a good chunk of change
 
AggieMike88 said:
I appreciate the input on alternatives to the Aerotherm.... I already am aware of those.....

So want more input on the Aerotherm's versus getting info I already know.
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Hi Mike,
I’ve owned an Aerotherm preheater for 5 or 6 Years. On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s a 10. I love it. I always say that no mater what the ambient temperature might be, my engine thinks it’s in the Bahamas. The thermostat works great, I usually set mine to 70 degrees F. If mine disappeared tomorrow, I’d buy another one tomorrow! Happy New Year! Don (A&M Class of ‘74)
 
Have their Deuce model for my Grumman....constantly on when in VA...love it....no issues....open heat valve and cockpit warms some too. Perfectly fits my cowl openings. Compared to other warming methods prevents the temp differential condensation issues.
 
I’ve been thinking about these since I noticed them in a magazine somewhere. I had tannis heaters in the previous 35 and they worked ok- but this would be better for what little heating I need here in Arkansas.
 
+ 1,,

I have tried all the home remedies and such with limited success. I decided to go with a purpose built device. I have owned the earlier model (before the silly green monster decals) Aero Therm engine compartment heater for years and it still works great. It heats the engine, oil, compartment and even cabin if you leave vents open. Set it to 70 degrees and leave it on overnight and on start up your engine oil will read 65-70 degrees. It don’t get better than that. I hook it up in the hangar (enclosed) when temps drop to 35 or below and have even carried it with me to use on the ramp when i knew i had AC power. In the South we dont deal with much of a winter but it still gets cold enough a good engine heater is a plus.
NOTE: I got mine off a pilot forum cheap ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,in the summer. :)


donkep said:
Hi Mike,
I’ve owned an Aerotherm preheater for 5 or 6 Years. On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s a 10. I love it. I always say that no mater what the ambient temperature might be, my engine thinks it’s in the Bahamas. The thermostat works great, I usually set mine to 70 degrees F. If mine disappeared tomorrow, I’d buy another one tomorrow! Happy New Year! Don (A&M Class of ‘74)
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James331 said:
Holy balls that thing is expensive!

You can build your own from stuff from the hardware store for like $60, might take another couple minutes to preheat, but meh, I just fire the heaters off and get a nice breakfast, when I get back its all warm. Or get a wifi or cell phone switch.


$700+ seems like a good chunk of change
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Yep. Heater, roof vent, dryer hose and timer was less than $60 total. If I know I'm flying the next day I set the timer to come one about 6 hours prior. But this winter in Arizona doesn't look like I'll need it much. Still in the 70's here.
 
I have an Aerotherm heater, and love it.

It's not designed for quickly thawing out a frozen engine (like a gas burner heater), but works great when started-up the evening before a cold morning launch. It's a high-quality piece of equipment, and runs at a relatively low temperature -- I'm not concerned about coming back to the airport to find my plane a smoking ruin.

You get what you pay for.
 
kyleb said:
Add a thermostatic switch and you're there. No need for the timer.
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Do they make one that is programmable for less than $20? When I looked, the only one I found was on at 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees for $12. I'd like to have more control.
 
What about a proper heater like reiff or Tanis?
 
Timbeck2 said:
Do they make one that is programmable for less than $20? When I looked, the only one I found was on at 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees for $12. I'd like to have more control.
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I'm looking too. Haven't found a thermostat <yet> that does what I want. If I do, I'll send you a PM.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
What about a proper heater like reiff or Tanis?
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What makes a Reiff or Tannis "proper"? I'd love to cobble together a system for $100 that does the same as the Aerotherm.
Timbeck2 said:
Do they make one that is programmable for less than $20? When I looked, the only one I found was on at 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees for $12. I'd like to have more control.
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How about this? $22 (not <$20), has an external probe, and appears to be programmable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NB8LQA...az&pd_rd_r=KMMG9WZTHWY57FQRVYV5&pd_rd_w=d6yBW
 
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kyleb said:
What makes a Reiff or Tannis "proper"? I'd love to cobble together a system for $100 that does the same as the Aerotherm.
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It's proper because it's a multi-point heater with no risk of fire and can be left in the aircraft hassle-free. All it takes is a 120v power source. If you're going to dish out $1000 for a system, I can't imagine doing something less than a full multi-point heater. These other solutions have to be set up and taken down and left on for a significant amount of time. Some solutions like the "torpedo" style heaters are well known to destroy engines from uneven heating.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
It's proper because it's a multi-point heater with no risk of fire and can be left in the aircraft hassle-free. All it takes is a 120v power source. If you're going to dish out $1000 for a system, I can't imagine doing something less than a full multi-point heater. These other solutions have to be set up and taken down and left on for a significant amount of time. Some solutions like the "torpedo" style heaters are well known to destroy engines from uneven heating.
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By the way, set up on the Aerotherm takes one minute. It provides gentle, soaking heat that is thermostatically controlled. In my experience, it is the best solution.
 
donkep said:
By the way, set up on the Aerotherm takes one minute. It provides gentle, soaking heat that is thermostatically controlled. In my experience, it is the best solution.
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I'm not saying it's inadequate. I'm just saying if you're going to spend 1amu on a heater why not one that's built-in and comes with you and requires not even a minute to set-up?
 
I'm confused, so the $1,000.00 one blows hot air

The one I built for $60 blows hot air

How exactly is my hearted going to burn my plane down?

How exactly is one going to unevenly heat the engine?


I could see the home made one taking longer but that's about it.


Reminds me of those guys on the skywagon group who basically said my plane would burst into flames becuse I occasionally use a modified sleeping bag to keep my engine warm vs a expensive cowl cover. Is the expensive cowl cover better, sure, but for how infrequently I would use it, and being a hangared plane does the $$ match the mission, nope.
 
I think mine is the deuce if that's the one before the higher powered units with rounded casing. Mine is in a black rectangular box. It was advertised to take 2 to 2 1/2 hrs to heat the engine. If I use a blanket over the cowl, plug all the openings I can with their sponges, block the vents on ether side of the cowl, create a makeshift tent from an old car cover to minimize the effects of external wind heat loss, and put gun socks over the propeller blades, I can get at least 60 degrees, usually more on some cylinders on my 4 probe CHTs after 1-1/2 hrs at the highest setting. Instead of getting a more powerful unit, I thought of supplementing the heat with some hair driers but the FBOs fuse would blow. The way it works seems to ensure heating the entire engine compartment. If you put it on as soon as you arrive at the plane, and then add the tent, scrape off the snow and ice, do your walk around doing all your other chores with a rest room stop, your time lost is greatly minimized.
 
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