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Rochester, MN

I was wondering if anyone has combined electric(heat) and water(Yikes!!)...meaning...has anyone cable tied on the heating cable to a soaker hose and then just laid it down around the plant(or where the plant will go....seems like it might save effort if you wish both? Or are there issues I can't think off?
Thanks.

12/29/2010 8:40:52 PM

Western NY

My heating cables go about 6-10 inches deep beneath the immediate planting area (roughly 3 foot square). Soaker hoses are laid out on top of the ground later on in the season. Heat rises, the water percolates.

12/29/2010 8:48:08 PM

Muddy Waters

It would not be an effective way to go.

12/29/2010 10:40:50 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Dave that seems like a good idea in theory. In Mn. where its cooler it seems like a good idea. Have you ever thought of warming the water in a swimming pool. you can get them pretty cheap.Fill em up with rain water when you can or with a garden hose. the sun evaporates the chemicals in the water and warms it up. then it can be added to the ground. just an idea.

12/31/2010 9:26:42 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

It sounds scary, but is it really any different than a good overhead watering or a big rainstorm? In either case, the soil is wet. It's just more reliably wet when you have the soaker hose. So if the electric cable is designed to be buried and it's on a good GFCI outlet, I'd do it. Also, consider that the cable is essentially grounded when it's buried, so the risk is minimal.

12/31/2010 11:31:27 AM

Petrolia,Ontario. Canada

make sure that your heating cables are plugged into a GFCI outlet and you will have no problems. I would recommend that the connections are covered up so they are not continually getting wet. Good luck in 2011

Lonnie

12/31/2010 5:26:25 PM