Keeping your horses hydrated is an essential part of caring for them, but lugging water buckets around can be challenging. Fortunately, automatic waterers exist in order to make watering your horses easier for everyone. If you’re looking into an automatic waterer for your horses, you may wonder whether an electric waterer or non-electric waterer would be better.
Here, we’ll go into the differences between electric waterers and non-electric waterers so that you can make the best decision for your horses. Let’s get into it.
About Electric Waterers
Electric waterers keep your animals’ water warm, so you don’t have to worry about it freezing over in the winter months. As such, they’re very popular, as they are both convenient and effective. Automatic waterers in general tend to be easy for animals to figure out how to use, and the submersible heater keeps water temperate, so that your animals can comfortably drink, no matter the season.
As you can imagine, electricity and water don’t typically mix. Proper grounding is essential in order to keep your animals safe. Modern regulations necessitate that electric waterers meet a high standard of safety in order to mitigate the risk of stray voltage carrying over to the unit. Automatic waterers always need expert care and exceptional attention to detail for proper installation – when you’re involving electricity in the matter, this is all the more important.
With electric waterers, not only do you have to think about the cost of the water, but also the ongoing electricity costs to heat it.
About Non-Electric Waterers
There are a few different types of non-electric waterers. They vary in how they prevent water from freezing over, and may require a minimum headcount. Frost-free non-electric waterers connect to your water line, below the frost line. This is because the ground beneath the frostline typically holds a fairly consistent temperature in the 50 degree Fahrenheit range. This allows your animals to enjoy nice, clean, temperate water, regardless of the season.
When you have a non-electric waterer, it brings water up from below the frostline when your animals press on the paddle and drains it back down when they’re done. This keeps the water from freezing because it doesn’t leave any water above the frostline that can freeze.
The depth needed for these waterers will vary depending on where you live. Colder climates will need to go deeper than warmer climates in order to ensure their waterline truly is frost-free.
Which Is Better: Electric Or Non-Electric Waterers?
When choosing an automatic waterer for your animals, it’s important to consider the pros and cons in order to determine the best option for you.
Electric waterers typically carry more risk than their non-electric frost-free counterparts, because of the fact that they utilize electricity. The last thing you want is for your automatic waterer to shock your animals when they go to drink from it. In the worst case scenario, this can result in animal death, while at other times, animals may avoid the waterer and become dehydrated, because of the electrical currents in it. Electric waterers also carry the risk of barn fires, increased costs, and more.
Following manufacturer recommendations and having all electrical work done by licensed professionals can help to avoid such issues. When they perform correctly, these waterers are convenient, especially for those who live in colder climates.
Non-electric waterers don’t carry the risk of electrocution, but depending on the type you get, you may need to worry about whether you have enough animals to keep the water from freezing. If you get a frost-free non-electric waterer, then you don’t need to worry about a minimum head count, algae growth, electricity concerns, or the like.
Generally speaking, the non-electric, frost-free automatic waterers can be more economical and effective in the long-run than their electric counterparts, depending on your specific circumstances.
Top-Of-The-Line Non-Electric Waterers For Horses, Livestock, And More
Bar Bar A provides top quality non-electric, frost-free automatic waterers throughout the United States. Our waterers were invented with animal safety in mind, as the inventor noticed that his horses weren’t drinking only to discover that it was because their electric automatic waterer was shocking them when they tried.
Designed to be easier for animals to learn how to use and to provide clean, temperate water all year round, you can rely on Bar Bar A to help you keep your animals hydrated. To learn more about our non-electric automatic waterers, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’re here to help you keep your animals healthy and happy, all year round.