Quick Summary
The API 14B heated bird bath is the perfect size for apartment dwellers, but you may have to rig an adapter for non-wood railings. Attractive design, quality product and super-easy to empty and clean. Keeps water liquid down to -20ºF (-29ºC)
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Conclusion:
The API 14B Heated Bird Bath is one of the better looking heated bird baths on the market. Easy to empty and care for, it can be mounted on a deck railing or on the short pole that comers with it.
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API 14B heated bird bath review
The API 14B heated bird bath's textured surface and sloping bowl lets birds choose the water depth they want and the rim has a nice groove in it that gives birds a natural grip.
Changing the water and cleaning are super easy: the The API 14B heated bird bath has a clever hinged mounting bracket that lets you dump the old water out without detaching the bowl.
Some people find the mounting bracket tricky to install, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem for most. However, it doesn’t help that Allied Precision sometimes forgets to include instructions in the box.
If that happens to you, there’s a PDF you can download with instructions for the bracket.
Who is this product for?
The API 14B heated bird bath is an ideal choice for giving birds ice-free water in winter, especially for apartments and condos where space is at a premium.
Bird lovers who rent their homes will appreciate that the mounting bracket is easy to install with no need to drill holes.
What's included with the API 14B heated bird bath?
The API 14B heated bird bath needs no assembly but you will have to attach it to the mounting bracket and then attach the bracket to your deck railing.
Or, if you prefer, you can use the short pole that comes with and place the bath in your garden.
All the hardware needed for this comes with the bird bath.
Overview of features
The API 14B heated bird bath stands out from other deck-mounted heated bird baths for its attractive design. At 14 inches wide, it’s large enough to accommodate several birds.
At about 3 pounds the API 14B heated bird bath is lightweight and easy to handle while you’re setting it up, and the 15-inch power cord tucks out of sight for the warmer seasons.
The mounting hardware included with the birdbath is intended for deck railings made of 2″ X 4″ or 2″ X 6″ lumber (or the equivalent width of other materials, such as concrete.) It may also work well on a 2-inch wide rail.
If you have a different type of deck railing you may need to attach a piece of wood to accommodate the mounting bracket.
The heater in this bird bath is completely enclosed by the basin and is turned on and off by an internal thermostat. With 70 watts of power it will keep at least some water liquid in freezing weather.
There’s no need to put this bird bath on a timer and doing so may put too much strain on the heating element, causing it to fail prematurely.
You will need a quality outdoor extension cord and a GFCI outdoor outlet for this bird bath.
Finally, several owners note that the basin often isn’t perfectly level after installation, probably due to the EZ-Tilt bracket. This really bothers some people, while others say it just makes the birds easier to see.
Installing shims to make the bowl sit level seems to fix the problem for most.
How to use the API 14B heated bird bath
Attach the brackets
- Attach the top bracket to the bird bath, ensuring that the power cord lies inside the channel on the bottom of the basin.
- Position the mounting bracket on your deck rail and tighten the bolts.
Pro Tips
- Make sure all the piece are facing the right direction, otherwise the basin may be unstable.
- If the deck railing is not level you may have to put shims under the bracket to level it. Tip: slide the bracket along the rail to find the most level spot before tightening the bolts.
- Make sure the power cord sits in the channel on the bottom of the basin.
Fill with water and plug it in
- Plug the bird bath into an outdoor-rated extension cord.
- If the connection will be exposed to rain and snow, use a safety seal and/or gasket where the two cords connect.
- Fill the bird bath with water.
- Plug the cord into an outdoor GFCI outlet.
What people who own the API 14B heated bird bath say
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Alternative to the API 14B heated bird bath
This very similar heated bird bath is also made by Allied Precision Industries, but has a larger 20-inch basin.
Conclusion
The API 14B heated bird bath is one of the better looking and most reasonably priced heated bird baths on the market. Easy to empty and care for with a hide-away cord for year-round use, it’s a product you’ll enjoy for years to come.
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