Leaving engine block heaters on all night does waste money and energy. Agricultural producers can cut energy consumption by using an inexpensive timer to turn the heater on and off. Diesel tractor engines generally require one to three hours of heater operation before cold-weather starts depending on the temperature(-30* F, 3 hours). Many farmers and ranchers leave heaters plugged in overnight. A 1,000-watt engine heater can cost $150 a season to use (based on 10 hours per night at 10 cents/kilowatt-hour, and a 150-day heating season). Operating that same 1,000-watt heater for only two hours each morning will save $120 a year, which is more than enough to pay for the cost of the timer.
Carl Pedersen
North Dakota State University
carl.pedersen@ndsu.edu
