Oil Drum Heater for 20L and 200L Drums

Oil Drum Heater, also known as a silicone drum heater or drum heating blanket, is a flexible heating solution designed to heat liquids and maintain suitable material viscosity inside metal and plastic drums. The flexible silicone heating blanket wraps around the outside of the drum and transfers heat through the drum wall to the contents inside.

Our Oil Drum Heater is available for standard 20L and 200L drums with 110V or 220V AC power. Standard configurations include 800W to 3000W power options, depending on drum size and heater width. Built-in mechanical knob or digital temperature controllers provide convenient temperature adjustment and automatic heating control. The reusable design allows quick installation and removal without special tools.

Want to understand how this type of heater works? Read our guide What Is an Oil Drum Heater? for an overview of its working principle, materials and common applications.

Key Features of Our Oil Drum Heater

• Flexible silicone heating blanket for cylindrical drum heating
• Suitable for standard 20L and 200L metal or plastic drums
• 110V / 220V AC standard voltage options
• 800W to 3000W standard power configurations
• Built-in mechanical knob or digital temperature controller
• Adjustable heating temperature according to application requirements
• Reusable design for repeated drum heating applications
• Oil-resistant silicone construction
• Helps reduce liquid viscosity and improve material flow
• Standard stock sizes available for faster delivery
• Custom heating solutions available for special drum sizes and applications

Oil Drum Heater Technical Specifications

Important: For plastic drums, the recommended operating temperature should generally be limited to 100°C or below to reduce the risk of drum deformation. Flammable or explosive materials require an appropriate explosion-proof heating solution and application assessment.

How Does an Oil Drum Heater Work?

An Oil Drum Heater heats the outside wall of the drum using a flexible silicone heating element. Heat passes through the drum wall and gradually warms the material inside.

This indirect heating method is useful for materials whose viscosity increases at lower temperatures. Raising the material temperature can reduce viscosity and improve flow during pumping, dispensing, pouring or processing.

The required heating temperature should be selected according to the material characteristics, drum material and target process temperature.

Oil Drum Heater Installation

The flexible drum heating blanket is designed for quick installation around the outside of the drum. No special installation tools are normally required.

1. Make sure the outside surface of the drum is clean and dry.
2. Remove oil, water, dust and other contaminants from the heating area.
3. Unfold the heating blanket and place the silicone heating surface against the drum wall.
4. Wrap the heater around the drum and ensure close contact with the drum surface.
5. Avoid wrinkles, large gaps or loose sections between the heater and drum.
6. Secure the heater using the supplied spring clips, straps or Velcro fastening system.
7. Keep the temperature controller outside the drum opening and away from liquid splashing.
8. Arrange the power cable properly and avoid excessive pulling, crushing or bending.
9. Ensure the electrical connection and grounding meet the requirements of the application.

The installation process normally takes only a few minutes. After use, the heater can be removed and reused on the same or compatible drum.

Heating and Temperature Control

After installation, connect the heater to the correct power supply and set the desired temperature using the built-in controller.

Mechanical Knob Controller

The knob controller allows the operator to adjust the heating temperature manually. The controller automatically switches heating off when the set temperature is reached and restarts heating when the temperature drops.

The typical control accuracy is approximately ±5°C.

Digital Temperature Controller

The digital controller provides more precise temperature adjustment and displays the measured drum-wall temperature. Digital configurations can provide control accuracy of approximately ±1°C depending on the model.

Some digital configurations can also include additional over-temperature protection.

Important: The controller normally measures the drum wall temperature rather than the actual internal liquid temperature. For high-viscosity materials, the internal material temperature may be lower than the measured drum-wall temperature.

Oil Drum Heater Removal

Follow the correct removal procedure after heating to avoid burns or damage to the heater.

1. Switch off the power supply and unplug the heater.
2. Allow the heater and drum surface to cool to a safe temperature.
3. Release the spring clips, Velcro straps or other fastening system.
4. Slowly remove the heating blanket from the drum surface.
5. Do not pull aggressively on the heating blanket or power cable.
6. Coil the cable neatly for storage without sharply bending the heater.
7. Inspect the silicone surface for cracks, cuts or other damage before the next use.

Oil Drum Heater Applications

The drum heating blanket can be used where controlled external heating is required to maintain material temperature or reduce liquid viscosity.

• Oil and lubricant heating
• Viscous liquid heating
• Adhesive and glue heating
• Resin and chemical material heating
• Wax and similar high-viscosity materials
• Paint and coating material heating
• Food and industrial material processing
• Plastic and metal drum heating
• Material preheating before pumping or dispensing
• Temperature maintenance during storage and processing

20L and 200L Drum Heater Options

We provide standard drum heater configurations for common 20L and 200L drum sizes.

• 20L / 5-gallon drum: 860 × 200 mm, 800W
• 200L / 55-gallon drum: 1740 × 125 mm, 1000W
• 200L / 55-gallon drum: 1740 × 250 mm, 2000W or 3000W
• Voltage: 110V or 220V AC
• Controller: Mechanical knob or digital temperature control

For other drum dimensions, heating requirements or special installation conditions, custom configurations can be discussed according to the application.

Not sure which configuration you need? See our Oil Drum Heater Selection Guide for guidance on drum size, material, target temperature and heating requirements.

Safety Instructions for Drum Heating

Proper installation and operating conditions are important for safe drum heating.

• Do not operate the heater without proper contact with the drum. Avoid heating the blanket freely in air.
• Do not fold or sharply crease the heating blanket during operation or storage.
• Do not puncture or mechanically damage the silicone heating blanket.
• For plastic drums, keep the recommended temperature at or below 100°C to reduce the risk of deformation.
• Do not cover the heater with insulation materials unless the complete heating system has been specifically designed for such use.
• Do not use a standard heater for flammable or explosive materials. An appropriate explosion-proof solution and application assessment are required.
• Keep the controller and electrical connections away from liquid spills and drum openings.
• Disconnect power before removing the heater.
• Stop using the heater if cracks, cuts, exposed wiring or other damage is found.

Oil Drum Heater vs Drum Heating Blanket

The terms Oil Drum Heater and Drum Heating Blanket are often used for similar flexible drum heating products. The main difference may be the construction and insulation design rather than the basic heating principle.

A blanket-style design may include additional insulation to reduce heat loss and help maintain the temperature of the drum contents during longer heating cycles.

For a clearer comparison of construction, insulation and typical applications, see our guide Oil Drum Heater vs Drum Heating Blanket.

Oil Drum Heater and Silicone Rubber Heater

An oil drum heater is specifically designed to wrap around cylindrical containers and heat materials inside drums. Its flexible blanket structure makes it suitable for temporary or repeated drum heating applications.

For larger flat or customized industrial heating surfaces, our Silicone Rubber Heater provides a thicker and more robust flexible heating solution.

For LPG and propane cylinder heating applications, you can also explore our LPG Cylinder Heater designed for stable gas supply in cold environments.

Industrial Drum Heater Options

For larger industrial applications, customized configurations or additional heating requirements, you can also explore our Industrial Drum Heater solutions.

Custom Drum Heater Options

Standard 20L and 200L drum heaters are available for common applications. Custom heating solutions can be considered when the standard configuration does not match the drum or process requirements.

• Custom heater dimensions
• Custom drum diameter or height
• Custom voltage
• Custom wattage
• Custom temperature-control range
• Mechanical or digital temperature controller
• Custom lead-wire configuration
• Special fastening arrangements
• Custom heating coverage

Information Required for an Oil Drum Heater Inquiry

To recommend a suitable drum heating solution, please provide the following information:

1. Drum capacity, such as 20L or 200L
2. Drum material: metal, plastic or other material
3. Drum dimensions or diameter
4. Working voltage: 110V, 220V or other requirement
5. Required heating power
6. Target heating temperature
7. Material being heated
8. Required temperature-control method
9. Quantity required
10. Any special operating or installation requirements

Send us your drum size, material, voltage and target temperature to receive a suitable Oil Drum Heater recommendation and quotation.

Request an Oil Drum Heater Quote

Need a stock drum heating blanket for a 20L or 200L drum, or a custom drum heating solution?

Please send your drum capacity, dimensions, material, voltage, required temperature and quantity. Our team can recommend a suitable configuration for your application.

Standard 20L and 200L drum heaters available. Custom silicone drum heating solutions supported.