Is the preheat optional? Can it be turned off?
827849
Yes, and I'm glad it's optional. I never need to set higher than #5 for 30 minutes before getting in bed. Then I turn to the low setting and it's plenty warm through the night. Of course, people have personal tastes. I live in Oregon now; if I still lived in Montana or Wyoming, no doubt I'd use higher settings, but I'd have no need for the preheat, even in mid-winter.
683608
Since I use mine constantly day and night, I seldom turn it off. The only way I know of is to turn off the electric, but as soon as one batch of food comes out during the growing season, another goes in. The heat is not wasted that way. I check often to see if some foods have dehydrated enough, take them out, and replace them with others that are waiting their turn. When harvest season is over, it will be unplugged, and stored until harvest begins again in the spring.
2057346
I don't use the preheat, my husband does. I think it stays on for 8 hours and then shut off. I put mine side on about two hours before I get into bed so it is really warm. If I don't turn it off wit him 12 hours it auto shuts off. WE LOVE IT!!! I hope it helps.
305202
There is just an on and off button, no heat settings. There is also no auto off feature, you need to make sure to shut if off. It does work great though!
1307886
Pretty sure there is a standby mode (warm) but I believe it's recommended to turn it off if you are not going to use it for an extended length of time.
2165013
For the record, we only use this for its effects so the heating capabilities have been turned to off. Anything further would be speculation on my part.
2174317
As in, do you take it off before plugging it in to heat.. no. you don't. :)
1033528
No, unfortunately. I wish it did. Nor can you program it to turn off. When the programmed cooking time is over, it automatically switches to warm.
144816
No. You just need to unplug it. Not a big deal. I do HIGHLY suggest making sure you get one with a temperature adjustment (like this one). Great model.
1656847
Yes, from the website you can turn it off, change to cool or change temp at any time.
537726
I put mine on an hour prior to going to bed, because it stay on for 1o hours which is longer then I sleep. I never bother to read the preheat papers. I use it to pre heat whn its cold or damp now that spring is here on the east coast
1973141
Automatically...no. You would have to switch it to low manually. The "cook time" setting will only work on either "high" or "low", and then switch to "keep warm".
213223
No. The 'programmable' part only lets you set the amount of time you want it to cook on high or low.
2083441
yes just turn the gas down. you control the heat. I bought this for my dad. best burner ever
708065
it must be preset, there is no temperature control. i don't remember temp. playing into it at all.
537727
No! It's advertised but this particular model does not have the pre-heat feature! I was not very happy when I discovered this!!
670935
No for the fan alone. But it does have options for System: Cool, Heat, Em(ergency) Heat, Auto and Off. So if you don't want the fan to run, you'll need to turn the system off.