Here's some tips:
  • DO NOT MICROWAVE: there are some sites that show you how to microwave similar products, we simply do not recommend it.
  • BOIL WATER: make sure your water is a "rolling" boil...not just a "small amount of bubbles" before you put it in the water
  • EASY DOES IT: slowly lower your Snappy Heat into the water and make sure you don't let the red material touch the pot without water
  • FLIP: we suggest you "flip" the Snappy Heat about halfway through the boiling to ensure full exposure of all the crystals, we also suggest lifting it out of the water a few times to inspect the progress to determine just how long to boil it
  • INSPECT: after you remove it from the water, look closely for any "floating crystals" - if you see any floaters, you did NOT BOIL IT LONG ENOUGH and when it cools, it will reactivate automatically - you must boil it some more
  • YOUR GOAL: the liquid inside the Snappy Heat should be "crystal clear" of any floating particles
  • ALTITUDE: remember your high-school chemistry lesson, altitude affects boiling times, so be patient mountain folk
  • NO SHARP OBJECTS: hey there genius, let's save the large forks and pointy metal objects for the BBQ, you're working with a large boiling hot water balloon, let's not cut it, slice it, poke it or treat it like a slab of meat
  • DO NOT USE IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOILING: hey Einstein, when you pull it out of the boiling water, it's VERY hot and will burn your skin instantly, let it cool to room temperature prior to reactivating it (remember, water boils at 212 degrees - OUCH!)

How To Reuse Your Snappy Heat

The energy released when you activate your Snappy Heat must come from somewhere, and it comes from the liquid turning into a solid crystal-like formation (this reaction releases heat aka: exothermic reaction). Once you have crystals, you cannot get more heat out of those crystals, unless you convert the crystals back into a liquid state, and the only way of doing this is to melt the crystals by boiling your heat packs. While in this liquid state, you have "potential energy" stored up, ready for you to release the energy in the form of heat, which is generated as the liquid is quickly converted to a crystallized form. We haven't invented "free energy" yet, but we're working on it!

So yes, you must boil these products after each use, in order to get them ready for the next use. DO NOT USE SNAPPY HEAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOILING - IT WILL BURN YOUR SKIN. LET COOL PRIOR TO USE.

After you use your Snappy Heat, and it's cooled, you'll notice as it cools off, it becomes hard, sort of like a big block of salt.  You can bring your Snappy Heat back to its liquid state by boiling it in water.  

"Will over-boiling it ruin the Snappy Heat?"
Possibly. Don't over boil it and don't let the red material touch any part of the pot that is not protected with water, it may melt.  You may find that over exposure to boiling water will cause the "product dimples" (small circular press points) to peel apart, creating a larger area for the liquid to pool in.  This doesn't affect the use or effectiveness of the product.  Excessive boiling may "split" the seams and cause the Snappy Heat to leak, which is not covered by our warranty, so keep your eye on it when you're boiling it.  If it leaks, throw it away.

"How much water do I need?"
Enough that when you put the Snappy Heat into the water, there is enough to cover the entire product.  We suggest using a large boiling pot. Never let the water boil away so the water level is lower than the heating pad.

Can I boil the straps on my 6x9 Snappy Heat pad?
Of course, you won't hurt them. Just make sure your pot is extra clean, or else the leftover food particles may stain your white straps.