Heated Mattress Pad: Effective Cozy Way to Cut Winter Heating Bills

Until several years ago, I didn’t know there existed something called a heated mattress pad. After all, I’d lived in Southern California for most of my life, where it is generally warm all year round. Relocating to Colorado, where the seasons are more pronounced, I had much to learn about heating a house without breaking the bank.

That first winter, our heating bills shot through the roof because we were heating the entire house to a comfortable temperature day and night.

Lower the temp

We saw a semi-dramatic reduction in the heating bill when we decided to radically lower the thermostat at night and then use a space heater in our bedroom. That worked relatively well but wasn’t altogether successful. Let’s just say that my husband and I have different internal thermostats. He would be cold while I’d be turning the space heater down a notch or ten.

Electric blanket? No!

That’s when I set out to find a way we could both enjoy a warm and cozy sleeping environment without paying a fortune to achieve it.

We tried going the electric blanket route. That sounded like a great idea until we used it for a few nights. While the cords and wires are advertised to be flexible, we could still feel them, and they felt stiff and bulky. Even at the lowest setting, it felt to me like I was trapped under a layer of heat, and it didn’t feel good.

A better way

A friend suggested that a heated mattress pad might be the solution, an idea that sent me into research mode. I was skeptical. My first concern was how to keep something like that clean. What if there’s an electrical short and it catches on fire? I bet you’re thinking the same things. Well, we can both relax. Let me tell you what we discovered.

Low-voltage

If you do a general search for heated mattress pads, you’ll find dozens of options—most of them rated to run on regular 110v household current, but only a precious few that run on low voltage. A quality heated mattress pad, such as those with patented Safe & Warm non-hazardous low-voltage technology, saves energy because it consumes less electricity than those running standard household 110v, is safe in the presence of moisture, will not harm pets, and emits no EMFs. Safe & Warm low-voltage technology is the only electric mattress pad technology that is certified as non-hazardous.

Dual controls

Quality heated mattress pads come with dual controls on the Queen and larger sizes. This one feature solves the problem my husband and I have with different internal thermostats.

Warm sheets

A good quality heated mattress pad warms the sheets, making it feel cozy to crawl into bed when it’s cold outside. The wires are so thin we cannot feel them at all. And the most amazing thing is that it goes right in the washer and dryer (following the printed instructions on the mattress pad, which are easy).

The first time I put the heated pad on our bed and allowed it to preheat for a couple of hours, I was sure the thing was faulty. It did not feel warm to the touch. After two hours, wouldn’t it have warmed up? Then I read the instructions again, and sure enough, it cautions that the bed will not feel particularly warm when you just run your hands over the top of the bedding. But when you crawl in between the sheets? Oh yeah!

Our heated mattress pad has made all the difference in great winter sleep and has significantly reduced the cost of heating the house. We set our programmable house thermostat to 55°F for the night, then to 68°F in the early morning hours so we wake to a warm house. Our heated mattress pad paid for itself in the first month we used it.

I highly recommend heated mattress pads for my readers who experience high heating bills during winter. On top of seeing a big reduction in those bills, you’ll enjoy the kind of warm and cozy sleep you may have only dreamed of!

Best options

Based on my testing, laundering, and enjoyment over the past 7 years, we have determined that the best-heated mattress pad has these features:

• Safe & Warm low-voltage technology
• Controls that attach at the head-end
• Full-mattress coverage like a fitted sheet (rather than a flat construction that only lies on top of the mattress)
• Deep pockets. Make sure you know your mattress depth, then select an option with pockets to match.
• Machine-washable
• Comes with a decent warranty

Consider this

I am posting below the current availability of the heated mattress pad that meets the above criteria. This is not an ad. I have personally curated this information for you, and it will be updated regularly as details change.

Availability appears to be limited and changing by the day. You may be able to find these products locally. However, my sense is that Amazon is the most reliable resource at this time.

 

This ultra-soft and supportive micro-velour fabric top is designed to rejuvenate and warm your bed and includes these features:

• Machine washable and dryable without any pilling, shrinking or stretching.
• Pockets accommodate up to 18 inch mattress depth
• Safe & Warm low-voltage technology
• Dual controls on queen and larger that attach at the head-end
• 5-year warranty
• Also available in Twin, Full, King, Calif King
• Available Queen

Here’s the heated mattress pad we travel with in Vangie! Designed for big rig truck drivers who overnight in their cabs, it is ideal for any location that has a 12-volt (cig lighter type) outlet. At only 12-volts, it uses very little energy. Even so, it does the job! In fact it warms the mattress (floor, cot, etc.), that we set it to “2”. Makes year round camping not only possible, but enjoyable!

Important Info

• Be diligent to keep the instructions and warranty information that comes with the mattress pad. Read them. Follow the instructions.
• Mattress pads have an auto shut-off feature. Don’t mistake it turning itself off for a defective product. It’s easy to turn it on a few hours before bedtime than flip it off and back on to make sure it remains on until morning. Warm and cozy all night long.

 

Updated with current pricing and availability: 1-4-24

---

 

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon-affiliated sites, with no cost or fees for you.

More from Everyday Cheapskate

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.