The fan can be noisy, so if you need absolute quiet to sleep, this may not be the solution for you. But I found that soft music drowns it out completely.
You will need to top off the water about once a week or so, but it's really easy to do. You just need to have it somewhere accessible.
I also recommend setting it on a hard surface it seems to work better I use a cookie sheet under my bed just in case it develops a leak or I get sloppy when topping it off.
Customer service at Chili Technology is top notch they will bend over backwards and stand on their heads to make sure you are satisfied. My unit developed a leak, I called them, and had a new unit within 3 days, and they paid for the return shipping on the leaky unit as well.
There is a rumor that they are developing one for chairs, and I can't wait. Wish there was one for a desk chair too.
Although I am single, imagine being able to have your side of the bed cool and your partner's side warm no more arguments about room temperature, and you will save a lot on heating and AC.
Overall, wonderful product, highly recommend it, I love it.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
This product can cool or heat your bed. For heating, this device works well, so I will not talk about that feature any further. For cooling, this device may not work as well as you would like it to. Let me explain:In the summertime, if your bedroom is uncomfortably hot, this device will probably help cool your bedding, but not to such a degree where you can turn off your air conditioning.
Let's say it's 30c and you'd like it to be 20c under the covers. This modestly powered device won't be able to close such a gap in temperature, as it's working against the ambient temperature of your room as well as your own body heat. It may be able to lower the temperature of the water 7c, but it could take several *hours* before a noticeable cooling effect can be felt. Remember, it not only has to cool the water flowing thru the tubes, but also the surrounding bedding, and eventually your body.
In short, this device will not replace your air conditioning if your room is too hot.
But even if the device could dramatically cool your bedding, this wouldn't be practical. Such a difference in temperature would create a large amount of condensation. In fact, condensation is already a problem when lowering the temperature by ~7c. On the hottest nights, I'll have damp bedding in the morning.
My conclusion, after using this product for an entire summer, is that the Chilipad works best in a room that is slightly too hot, but not extremely hot. You may have to use the AC to reach this ideal temperature, which may lead you to feel that this device is pointless. It probably is pointless for some people in some environments, but clearly, some find it greatly beneficial to their quality of sleep.
Another problem to consider is the noise of the device when operating at its maximum power. It produces white noise that is a bit louder than a room fan, as well as some gurgling water noises. If you are sensitive to noise, you'll definitely want to wear earplugs, but even then, you'll still hear it.
I use the Chilipad during the winter months to keep my bed toasty warm. In the autumn and spring the device works well to keep my bed at a reasonable temperature. But during the hot summer months when just about everyone sleeps with the AC on, this device simply cannot beat the heat on its own.
UPDATE Sept 2013:
Unfortunately, I constantly found myself going to bed too hot, and waking up too cold. I could never find a comfortable temperature setting with the Chilipad and the whole ordeal became detrimental to my sleep. As such, I didn't use it for the entire summer for 2013.
I've grown to realize that the product is made for a room that already has a comfortable ambient temperature. The unit simply regulates the temperature of the bottom bedding, preventing things like sweating into the mattress at night. But as I said before, if your room is too hot to begin with, the Chilipad isn't going to help much.
I still plan to use the Chilipad all winter long like last year. It's really quite suited for that.
Best Deals on ChiliPad Bed Temperature Control Mattress Cover
Just got one of these, and after two nights I think it is great. I have a latex foam mattress, and my only complaint has been that it is hot. The Chilipad fixed that issue. Good customer support too needed for someone who does a poor job of reading the manual.Edited August 6, 2012 almost 8 months after purchase
Still loving it. Use it every night.
