The Ultimate Guide to Heating Pads and Thermal Pastes

When it comes to heating pads, there are a variety of options. You can buy brand-name heated pads and thermal pastes, or you can make your own custom heated pad using smart home technology. Whatever your heating pad preference, this article is designed to help you get the most out of it. 

Thermal pastes are usually made from mixtures of potassium ferrocyanide and carboxymethyl cellulose, so they’re heat resistant. The blend also makes the product smell like unbleached white paper. If that’s not exciting for you, maybe this will be: the heated pads in these pastes feel nothing like traditional heating blankets. Instead, these pastes have a more distinct texture that some people find soothing (think: marshmallows). 

The best part? You don’t need any special skills to make your own custom heating pad from home technology . If you’ve ever wondered how to make your own heated pad, then stay with me! We’ll take you through the basics — everything from choosing materials to creating and testing recipes — so that when winter arrives, you can relax knowing that at least one element of your home will be keeping you warm.

What is a heated pad?

A heated pad is a heating solution that uses electricity to heat a material against your body. The electricity from a wall outlet heats the pad along with trapped heat from your body, which then travels through the air-conditioning or heating systems in your home. Hence, a heated pad works like this:

You place your body on the heating pad and then plug it in to charge. When you’re not using it, the electricity from the socket is stored in the pad and you can listen to your favourite tunes while maintaining comfort.

You can choose between electric heating pads or thermal pads. A thermal pad is usually made from natural materials like natural gas, gas oil, coal, wood, etc. The source of heat can determine which type of pad you choose.

How to make your own heating pad

Here’s how to make your own heating pad:

1. Choose the right material: Gas, oil, electric, or natural gas? There’s a good chance that one of these will be used to manufacture your heated pad. Look for one with low odor and fire-retardant properties. If you’re not sure which material to use, choose a low odor, fire-retardant option. You don’t want your pad to smell like gas in winter.

2. Place the material on the ground: Place the heating pad material on the ground next to you. This will give the electric current a path through your body, and help keep you warm. Ideally, the ground should be about knee-length.

3. Protect your skin from contact with the heat: Your skin is the largest heat-sink in your house, and it’s likely to get hot while you sleep. Protect it with a pair of warm-wool or wool-lined gloves and an old T-shirt.

4. Put the heat in the right place: Place the heating pad where you can keep an eye on it and make sure it’s not left out in the cold. Ideally, this is the first floor or the basement.

Different types of heated pads

There are many types of heated pads. We list the most common below: Closed-back pad: The closed-back pad is a closed-loop system.

That means that the heated pad itself provides heat, and the air conditioning or heating system circulates the air around you and keeps you at the optimal temperature. When using a closed-back heated pad, you should be able to sleep comfortably without moving.

Ideally, you want to be able to sleep for 8 to 12 hours straight without needing to take a break for food, drinks, or a nap. Open-back pad:

Open-back heated pads let the air flow through them, but they don’t trap heat from your body. You can use an open-back pad when you want to get away from it all and relax on a tropical vacation.

Temperature control in heated pads

These heated pads come with temperature controls, which allow you to set the correct heat setting for your preferences. You can select from low, medium, or high, which regulates the amount of heat generated by the pad.

This can be a lifesaver if you’re a hot-tempered person. You can set the machine to med or low, then take your shirt off, and sit back on the couch with a cold beverage and a good book.

DIY: How to make a custom heated pad from home technology

Here’s how to make your own custom heated pad from home technology:

1. Find a material: Look for a material with low odor, fire-retardant properties, and full-body heat insulation properties. If you’re not sure which material to use, choose a low odor, fire-retardant option.

2. Cut it out: Once you have the material, cut it out with a patterned cutting tool. This will help you remove the pad later.

3. Use your hand to shape it: Once you have the shape, use your hand to shape it so that it looks like a ball. This is the core of your heated pad.

4. Put it in a box: Once you have your ball-shaped pad, put it in a box to keep it safe and sound.

Conclusion

The best heating pad is the one that feels best against your skin. McKenna’s HPS (high-intensity polymers) Herbal Heated Pads are specifically designed to provide this type of feel.

Whether you choose to make your own custom heated pad or purchase a ready-made model, using the right type of heating pad for your needs is important.