Hi Dawn. 69°F is actually a perfectly comfortable temperature for sourdough. Using a heating pad may be causing your starter to rise and then fall very quickly, possibly while you're not in the house or sleeping. I'd recommend leaving it on your counter at room temperature. It can take some starters 6-8 hours to really reach full ripeness, so it may be useful to have it in your eyeline while you're home for a day. Our Baker's Hotline is a fantastic resource for all things sourdough and can be reached at 855-371-BAKE (2253). Bubbles are the important thing so you're definitely on the right track! Annabelle@KAF

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