Incubator EMERGENCY! Thermometer is showing 2 readings

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I turned my eggs and shut the bator this morning. Then I go back about 20 minutes later to check the temps. and the thermometer is distorted or something... There is a 1/4 of an inch of the red mercury showing at 101 and then it is clear for 20 degrees and the second line of mercury is at 79. So, there is a big gap in the mercury.

Why is this and is the top part still reading correctly?

I have very precious eggs in here right now and I am about to have a heart attack!

 

[Dirt Road]

It is NOT reading correctly. Unless you have fiddled with the thermostat, the incubator is probably holding ok. Take the thermometer out and heat it up ( hot water tap?) until the two bits of red are joined . The upper one will have to go all the way to the top in order to force them together. When it cools back down it should be just one column of red.

Jim

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

OK, I will do this.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Thanks, that worked. Now I am going to monitor it for a bit. Do you think it will still be reading correct temps.?? Why do you think that happend?

I have already ran out and caught my broody hen. She is on standby!

 

[Dirt Road]

I'm not sure why it happens. Could be a cheap therm. maybe got bumped a bit?They usually read ok as long as there is not even a small bubble in the column. Used to have to do that once in a while, but now I try to use digitals.

Jim