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"...use where one would use a hot-water bottle, but without the danger of a leak." Very interesting. Did you find any noticeable difference between the longevi

"...use where one would use a hot-water bottle, but without the danger of a leak." Very interesting. Did you find any noticeable difference between the longevity of its heating as compared with water? The reason I ask is that the specific heat of water is higher than that of wheat so water should retain the heat longer. BTW, I'm familiar with hot water bottles, they were all the rage when I was a kid before electric blankets became commonplace. P.S.: I can't say I ever had one leak but I reckon I'd have come close. After some use, they'd start to perish around the filling point/screw stopper. The idea was to always keep an eye on it and once one noticed the first signs of perishing then not to gamble too long before replacing it.

ColinWright 5y ago
My impression is that they don't last as long, but definitely for long enough. People think that if you need to heat them more often then it's less efficient, but if the heat doesn't last as long then almost certainly they take less energy to heat up in the first place. It's all about transferring energy/heat from one place to another.
Cass 5y ago
I've used a bunch of different pillows (cherry stone, wheat, etc) and found that, while the initial heat is great and feels better than a hot water bottle, they only stay properly hot for about five to seven minutes. Once when I had a bad back pain day, I put the microwave next to the bed so I could keep a constant reheating cycle going.
- SamBam 5y ago
  I agree. The buckwheat-filled pillows I got my kid stay warm about 10-15 minutes tops, no matter how hot I get them in the microwave.
- hilbert42 5y ago
  Now, I like the idea of the microwave to reheat it, that's quite a novel idea. Thanks for that.
Starwatcher2001 5y ago
We had a hot water bottle burst this week. My wife woke up to soggy feet and the water had penetrated right through the mattress. The bottle was empty and probably slowly leaking all night. It took much of the day to dry the mattress out. On inspection we found the rubber had perished, probably as the bottle was around five years old. The replacement cost less than £10, including fluffy cover. We'll be sure to inspect this one more frequently when filling. Not only does the bottle provide her warmth, to helps ease the pain in her arthritic feet.

ColinWright 5y ago

My impression is that they don't last as long, but definitely for long enough. People think that if you need to heat them more often then it's less efficient, but if the heat doesn't last as long then almost certainly they take less energy to heat up in the first place. It's all about transferring energy/heat from one place to another.

Cass 5y ago

I've used a bunch of different pillows (cherry stone, wheat, etc) and found that, while the initial heat is great and feels better than a hot water bottle, they only stay properly hot for about five to seven minutes. Once when I had a bad back pain day, I put the microwave next to the bed so I could keep a constant reheating cycle going.

SamBam 5y ago
I agree. The buckwheat-filled pillows I got my kid stay warm about 10-15 minutes tops, no matter how hot I get them in the microwave.
hilbert42 5y ago
Now, I like the idea of the microwave to reheat it, that's quite a novel idea. Thanks for that.

Starwatcher2001 5y ago

We had a hot water bottle burst this week. My wife woke up to soggy feet and the water had penetrated right through the mattress. The bottle was empty and probably slowly leaking all night. It took much of the day to dry the mattress out. On inspection we found the rubber had perished, probably as the bottle was around five years old. The replacement cost less than £10, including fluffy cover. We'll be sure to inspect this one more frequently when filling. Not only does the bottle provide her warmth, to helps ease the pain in her arthritic feet.