WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING ELECRIC BLANKETS OR PADS

PRICE vs. FEATURES

A good automatic blanket or mattress pad should last 5-10 years and will save you many times over what you pay for it in energy costs, assuming you turn your furnace thermostat down at night. (Click on the Energy Savings navigation tab on the left side of this article.) Therefore initial price should become a less important factor in the decision and comfort/ease of use should become a more important one. When selecting the product, the purchaser or gift giver should consider which features will be important to the person who will be using the product over the next 5 – 10 years.

EASE OF USE

Before purchasing an electric blanket or mattress pad one should consider how easy the controller will be to operate (for the particular user). For example, a person with poor grasping ability should look for either a large easy-to-turn knob or an easy-to-push digital control. A person with poor eyesight will want to purchase a control with large bright numbers on the setting dial. If there are two people in the same bed, individual heating controls (i.e. dual controls) will be very important. Some people will not want a heavy blanket pushing down on their bodies all night.

UL LISTING

One should never purchase an electric blanket or electric mattress pad that does not specifically state that it conforms to the standards set forth in UL964, the only comprehensive set of electric bedding safety regulations for the United States. UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories and their safety standards are the most accepted and recognized ones in the United States. The following major brands of warming bedding meet the UL964 standard (to be verified right on the package before you purchase).

·      Biddeford Mills™

·      Perfect Fit Industries®

·      Sunbeam®

·      WestPoint Stevens®

There are 12V small electric blankets (throws) for sale that are designed for use with car cigarette lighters. These are very rudimentary devices and none of them are UL listed for good reasons (e.g. the cord could become entangled in the accelerator or brake pedal mechanisms or more importantly they have no overheat protection). If you decide to employ one of these cigarette lighter outlet warming blankets, use it with the utmost caution.