Cannot get hova-bator incubator to hold a steady temperature? Trying to get it adzusted to 99.5 but after 92 degrees turning it very slightly it shoots up past 110 deg. Trying up and down for a day and no luck, it is only a year old and hatched 4 times since last year. I am puzzled on what is wrong? Can it be the heating element or thermostat or whatever? I had it set before and hatched out chicks so I know how to adjust the handle, need info soon so I can fill the incubator with eggs I have waiting to put in to hatch. Thanks in advance everyone. Mary

-- Mary (marwel@microserve.net), February 03, 2002

Answers

Mary, sounds like you need a new wafer (that round thingy). They are fairly sensitive to dropping etc. Most farm supply stores have them.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 03, 2002.

I am not familiar with egg incubators, but I have used a number of other types of incubators, ovens, etc. over the years. Maybe you can troubleshoot the problem.

First, clearly the heater is working.

Is anything blocking the sensor, if there is one?

The thermostat is probably the problem. If it is a bimetallic strip, then the sensor and controller are the same thing. It probably needs cleaning (below).

If the sensor-controller is pressure regulated, then you probably have a longish copper tube with a copper elongated bulb at the end. If so, then the controlling knob might be at fault, or else the bellows is dirty or blocked somehow. If the copper tube was leaking, then you should get no control at all.

If you have an electronic control of some sort, which I doubt, then the control knob (a pot or potientometer or rheostat, a variable resistor) is probably faulty or dirty.

The most likely problem is dirt. The greatest dangers are fire and electrical shock, so unplug the unit before you do anything at all.

The best cleaner, as far as I am concerned, is tuner cleaner, as it is usually not flammable. Second, is physical rubbing, e.g. with a piece of stiff paper, pencil eraser or, as a last resort (kill or cure) sandpaper or something metallic, e.g. a knife or scraper. The final choice is starter fluid, brake cleaner, etc. followed by a blast of compressed air. These, of course, are flammable. I never use WD-40 since it is a mixture of flammable petroleum solvents, not lubricants, that take a long, long time to evaporate.

Good luck, Marty

-- Martin Boraas (boraas@miliserv.net), February 03, 2002.

It's the wafer. I have to replace mine every year or so,there is really nothing else to go wrong with the hovabator,pretty simple. Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002.

I agree that you should replace the wafer. Also, is the room it is in a pretty consistant temperature? Wide temp fluctuations in the room that the incubator is in will also cause problems.

-- Trisha-MN (coldguinea@netscape.net), February 03, 2002.

Cutler's Supply has the Thermostat wafer (3001)for $4.25+shipping. http://www.cutlersupply.com/ Try taking the wafer off and putting it in the frezer for 2 or 3 hours if that don't work then you will need a new wafer.

-- Warren-NC (w.baucom@worldnet.att.net), February 04, 2002.

Thank all you good people for your advice on the incubator. Bought a new wafer from agway this morning for $5.69, installed it and got the temp. working and will be putting the eggs in tonight. This has to be the best forum for info. on homesteading and every day advice. Thanks a million everyone. Also thanks on all the good advice I asked for on the bus as a chicken coop. Mary

-- Mary (marwel@microserve.net), February 04, 2002.