Heating a chest Freezer...

[damon1212]

I'd suggest moving to Texas!

[Pseudolus.]

I use a heating pad. Only have a one-stage controller so I have to manually plug in the freezer OR the pad, and have to remember to tell the controller which one it's controlling. Works fine since I know ahead of time what ambient temps will be and whether the fermenter will need heated or cooled.

[BrewTa2]

$3.69:

[DucBrewer]

Not sure how cold it gets there, but here in socal, it's been in the 40's at night. Occasional 30's, and I have only a single stage controller on my fridge in the garage. I set that to my temp, usually around 66 to 69 and put a small heating pad in the fridge. On the cold nights I set it on high, and for regular winter nights I set it on med. Has been working really good at maintaining ale temps and my fridge is not cycling excessively either.

The reptile heater sounds like a good option too if you don't have a two stage controller.

[HAMMER ONE]

If you don't have a dual stage tenp control here's a cheap fix. get a tall jar or glass filled with water and put a fish tank heater in it set at around 80deg it will be enough to take the edge off and wont over heat.