6 Best Floating Stock Tank Deicers For Large Farms That Ranchers Swear By
Ensure your herd has constant water access in winter. We review the 6 best floating stock tank deicers, field-tested and trusted by ranchers.
That moment you walk out to the barn on a frigid morning and see a solid sheet of ice covering the stock tank is a familiar dread for any rancher. Breaking ice with an axe is a temporary, back-breaking fix that has to be repeated day after day. A reliable deicer isn’t a luxury; it’s an essential tool for ensuring your livestock have constant access to water, which is critical for their health and digestion through the winter.
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Choosing the Right Deicer for Your Stock Tank
The first mistake people make is buying the most powerful deicer they can find. The best deicer isn’t the strongest, it’s the one that matches your specific setup. Consider your tank’s size, its material, and the severity of your winters. A 50-gallon plastic tank in Tennessee has vastly different needs than a 500-gallon steel tank in Wyoming.
Think about wattage as a measure of heating power. A 1,500-watt unit will keep a large tank clear in sub-zero temperatures, but it will also run up your electricity bill. A 250-watt deicer is far more economical but might struggle on the coldest nights. It’s a balance between performance and cost.
Also, pay close attention to the construction. Some deicers use an exposed heating element that can damage or even melt a plastic tank. Others have protective cages or are specifically designed for plastic. Always match the deicer type to your tank material—it’s the most important safety rule.
Farm Innovators P-418: Top All-Around Performer
If you need a dependable workhorse that handles a wide range of conditions, the Farm Innovators P-418 is a solid bet. With 1,500 watts of power, it has enough muscle to keep water open in tanks up to 300 gallons, even when the temperature really drops. It’s a popular choice for a reason: it just works.
Its design is simple and effective. A built-in thermostat kicks the unit on only when the water temperature nears freezing, saving energy compared to a unit that runs constantly. While it can be used in most tank types, its enclosed heating element and sturdy guard make it a safe option for both metal and plastic tanks, offering great versatility.
This model hits the sweet spot for many operations. It’s not the cheapest to run, nor is it the most indestructible, but it provides reliable performance for the majority of winter conditions you’ll face. For a rancher with several large tanks and no time for fuss, the P-418 is a go-to solution.
K&H Ultimate Deicer: Built for Harsh Conditions
When winter gets serious, you need equipment that’s built to match. The K&H Ultimate Deicer is engineered for durability and efficiency in the most brutal cold. Its solid, donut-shaped design is incredibly robust, and it can be used as a floating or a submersible unit, giving you options for placement.
What sets the K&H apart is its smart thermostatic control. It’s exceptionally good at sipping power, only turning on when absolutely necessary to maintain a small drinking hole. This makes it surprisingly energy-efficient for its power, a huge benefit during long, cold snaps where every kilowatt-hour counts.
This deicer is for the rancher in the northern plains or high country who can’t afford a failure. It’s an investment in peace of mind, knowing your animals will have water even when the wind chill is twenty below. The rugged build means it can handle being nudged by curious cattle without missing a beat.
API 15N Floating Deicer: Power for Large Tanks
For those massive, old-school galvanized steel tanks, you need raw heating power. The API 15N delivers exactly that. Its 1,500-watt heating element is designed to keep a significant area of a very large tank ice-free, making it ideal for herds that drink from a central water source.
The key feature here is its heavy-duty cast aluminum body. This construction provides excellent heat transfer and is incredibly durable. However, this is also its biggest limitation: it is for metal tanks only. Using this deicer in a plastic or structural foam tank is a recipe for a melted disaster.
Don’t even consider this model for a smaller tank; it’s complete overkill and will waste a tremendous amount of electricity. But if you have a 300-gallon or larger steel tank and face consistently freezing temperatures, the API 15N provides the brute force needed to get the job done without fail.
Farm Innovators H-418: Safest for Plastic Tanks
Plastic stock tanks are lightweight, affordable, and popular, but they come with one major winter challenge: they can be damaged by a hot deicer. The Farm Innovators H-418 is specifically engineered to solve this problem. Its most important feature is a substantial protective cage that keeps the heating element from ever touching the sides of the tank.
With 1,000 watts, it has less power than its bigger cousins, but it’s more than enough for small- to medium-sized plastic tanks (in the 75- to 200-gallon range) in all but the most extreme climates. It prioritizes safety over raw power, which is the right tradeoff when you’re trying to protect your equipment.
Think of this as the specialized tool for a specific job. If you’ve invested in plastic or structural foam tanks, using a deicer designed for them is non-negotiable. The H-418 gives you the confidence to walk away knowing your deicer won’t become a fire hazard.
Ice Chaser Floating Deicer: Energy-Efficient Pick
Not everyone battles arctic blasts all winter. For those in more temperate climates where you just need to handle overnight frosts and the occasional cold snap, the Ice Chaser line is the smartest choice. These deicers are built around one principle: energy efficiency.
Available in lower wattage options like 250 or 500 watts, they use a fraction of the electricity of the high-power models. They are designed to maintain a small, consistent hole in the ice, not to warm the whole tank. The sensitive thermostat ensures it only runs when truly needed, keeping your utility bills in check.
This is absolutely the wrong tool for a Minnesota winter. But for a rancher in Oklahoma, Virginia, or Oregon, it’s perfect. It provides a reliable water source for your animals without the sticker shock of running a 1,500-watt heater for months on end. It’s about using the right amount of power for the job.
Behlen Country FDT15: The Most Rugged Design
Some equipment is just built tougher than the rest, and the Behlen Country FDT15 falls squarely in that category. This deicer is a beast, constructed from heavy-duty cast aluminum that feels like it could stop a truck. If your stock tanks are in high-traffic areas where equipment gets bumped and jostled, this is the one you want.
Like other cast aluminum models, it’s a 1,500-watt powerhouse intended for large, metal-only stock tanks. Its ruggedness is its main selling point. The cord is heavily reinforced at the base, and the entire unit is designed to withstand the abuse that comes with daily life on a working farm or ranch.
This isn’t the most technologically advanced or energy-efficient deicer on the market. It is, however, arguably the most durable. It’s a buy-it-for-a-decade kind of tool, built on the principle that simple, tough, and effective is what really matters when the work needs to get done.
Deicer Safety and Installation Best Practices
A deicer mixes two things that should never meet: electricity and water. Taking safety seriously is not optional. The single most important rule is to plug your deicer into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet. This device will shut off the power instantly if it detects a short, potentially saving an animal’s life.
Protect the power cord at all costs. Livestock, especially curious calves or goats, will chew on anything they can reach. Run the cord through a length of PVC pipe or a heavy-duty cord protector to prevent damage. Secure the cord out of the way so animals can’t pull the deicer out of the water or get tangled in it.
Finally, make daily checks part of your routine. Ensure the water level is always well above the deicer; a unit running in a low or empty tank can overheat and become a serious fire hazard. Before you install it each season, inspect the cord and plug for any signs of cracking or wear. A few minutes of prevention is worth a thousand times the cure.
Ultimately, keeping your stock tank ice-free isn’t about finding a magic bullet, but about making a smart match between your equipment, your climate, and your animals’ needs. A well-chosen deicer is a silent partner that works through the coldest nights, ensuring your livestock stay healthy and hydrated. Choosing correctly before the first freeze saves you endless work and worry all winter long.
