Well made unit. I purchased this to be able to stabilize and pre heat my Igloo Mash Tun. I started with approximately 5 gallons of 125 degree water. I then inserted the bucket heater and set the temp controller to my mash temp of 152 degrees. It took about 70 minutes to bring the temp to 152. This is not a problem if you plan ahead. The whole time it is heating it is stabilizing the mash tun. By doing this I had less then 1 degree drop over a 60 minute mash cycle. Best stable mash temp I have ever had. A good practice is to stir the water while it is heating every now and then. Be sure and control it with a controller and you will not overshoot your temp again.

When I first got this it would heat my strikewater to about 150f overnight in the garage. Ambient temps were cold cold cold. Now after a few months it can only heat to about 110f in the same amount of time. Ambient temps are now warmer. I'm left to believe this thing is losing some effectiveness. Pretty disappointing. It is still a nice headstart but I find myself having to use propane to get up to strike temps more than I want.

I use it throughout brew day along side propane. Whatever btu's I get out of it are cheaper than propane.

I keep a Corny keg 1/2 full of PBW solution. This works great to heat it. Then I dump in conical or keg washer as needed. When done I pour back into corny keg and use for a few more rounds of cleaning. Also a good way to heat rinse water.

Another name for this product is a bucket heater. I use it to heat 8 - 10 gallons of strike water in a Keggle. (more than 10gallons and you'll start covering the plastic parts of the heater). I want to warn you this thing is SLOWWWWWWW. I turn it on when I go to bed and let it run overnight. My water is at about 170F when I get up. It gives me a great start on my day when I have my strike water and crushed grains waiting on me in the morning. I'll give this four stars just because of it's slowness.... but then again it is probably the fastest that you'll get out of 120V.