Customer Reviews

SoftHeat Heating Pad Dry, 12-Inch by 14-Inch

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

After reading the review regarding no automatic shutoff, I purchased 4 Soft Heat heating pads. Larger would be nicer, but they heat well and as they don't have automatic shutoffs, I will be going back for more. Target sells them for 9.99.
For many years, we have been buying heating pads for our arthritic and renal failure pets and for ourselves also. I recently purchased some Dunlap heating pads with automatic shutoffs by mistake - even though many of them do not seem to last more than a few months, the larger size is nice and they are cheap. It was not great to check on one of our more critical pets to find his new Dunlap control blinking red and the pad cold. I WILL NEVER KNOWINGLY PURCHASE ANOTHER HEATING PAD WITH AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF!!

First, I should note that it is likely that various configurations of this product are being sent out under the same product name, probably based on whatever is convenient for the manufacturer due to availability and cost of parts and material. Therefore, other customers may have received a different pad, and therefore had different experiences, than I did. As a side note, the product I received had no auto shut off; as apparent from the reviews, some do and some don't.

A rather striking feature discrepancy is that my pad only had one heat level (just on or off), despite having a three level switch controller and a product description to match. I dissected the pad due to the fact that it had burned out (more on that later), and found that although the controller had the circuitry necessary for three levels, the pad itself did not. Two of the three wires going to the pad were simply connected together within the pad, and there was only one heating element. Given the design of the controller, for three heat levels, there would have to be two heating elements. This finding was consistent with an observation I had made months earlier when I plugged the product into a watt meter: no matter the setting, the heating pad drew the same power. I'm certain of these findings; I am an electrical engineer and this is a very simple electrical device.

Now to describe the device failure. The pad was on the floor, about half covered with a hand towel, room temperature 65 degrees F. Upon noticing an unpleasant odor, I removed the felt cover and found the pad was getting extremely hot in one area and the white vinyl case had turned brown at that location. I then cut open the controller and the pad and determined its operation and failure point. The pad has two thermal protectors, also called thermal cutouts or thermostats. One of these was the point of extreme heat; the insulation had charred around it, as would be expected. It is likely that this thermal protector, a Pepi E-series, was either the wrong part or mis-calibrated.

I am left with a concern that this manufacturer may be changing product components and even features without proper regard for consumer rights and device safety.

I bought this heating pad after doing a lot of research. I have tried heating pads by Sunbeam, Homedics and several other companies but never found what I was looking for. I have severe back problems and this heating pad provides instantaneous relief to my sore muscles. The temperature can be adjusted; the pad never gets too hot but yet its hot enough to ease muscle tension and spasms. The size is just ideal too, unless you need a pad to cover a very large surface area, go for this pad! You won't regret it. Its a small investment to make for anyone who needs a heating pad. The reason I gave this product 4 stars instead of 5 stars is because it doesn't have an auto shut off feature. Nevertheless its worth the money!

I've had the SoftHeat heating pad for 8 or so years now and am very satisfied with it. I use it to make a yogurt nest for making homemade yogurt, for providing extra warmth so bread will rise in a cold house, and for warming my own mattress before I get into bed on a cold night. I've measured a difference between the heat from the low and medium setting: low is the one to use for yogurt and bread dough.

The removable, washable cover is convenient.

I like everything about the product except for one thing; the cover does not stay on the heating pad. It needs a snap, button or velcro fastener so it will stay on better.

I bought two of these based on a 2005 customer review saying they don't have automatic shutoff, but now they do. I guess this is considered an improvement, but I bought them for an elderly cat, and she can't reset the control every hour. They are a good value if you don't mind the auto shutoff.

Great value. Improve performance by plugging it into an inexpensive, 300 watt, remote hand-held dimmer, available at H.D. etc. Put pad on highest heat level and control heat with your dimmer. Produces continous heat at the level you desire, and is smoothly and immediately adjustable to changing needs.Obviates the need for built-in thermostats.

I bought a 12X15 inch Kaz SoftHeat unit in December 2007. On 12/07/2008 the electrical cord unexpectedly broke at the junction of the cord and the blue stress reliever near the control unit, shorted out, and started sparking. Fortunately, I wasn't shocked or burned. The unit saw almost daily use for a back condition but has not been abused. I've contacted Kaz to request a refund. Frankly, I think that the construction of their SoftHeat products is shoddy and unsafe and I won't buy another one of their heating pads.

It stopped working, the switch light is on, but the pad is cold...lame.
Also, even when it did work, the switch part would get really hot. Scary!
Sure it shuts off after 20 mins., nice auto off feature, but I was afraid it would burst into flames;p
Lame.

I searched all over for a heating pad that would stay on all the time. Most of them have a timer that goes off automatically in two hours. This one stays on and it is an even heat. I am very satisfied with my purchase.
I didn't order it for myself but for my newborn puppies. My Maltese were very warm and comfy and not at all overheated. I placed it at one end of the box under their cover and when the Mama wanted to get away from her puppies she just went on the other side of the box and the puppies stayed warm.