Space heaters are compact devices that provide targeted warmth to specific areas in your home. They’re popular during colder months when you need a quick temperature boost in a particular room without cranking up the central heating.
While space heaters are handy and effective, they come with some important safety considerations. Did you know that space heaters directly contribute to fire risks? Their simplicity can be deceptive — it’s so easy to plug them in and forget about them as they quietly work.
By following these safety tips, you can make sure that both you and your family stay protected while benefiting from the convenience of space heaters.
1. Keep a Three-Foot Safety Zone Around Your Space Heater
Your space heater needs breathing room to work safely. Always keep at least three feet of clear space around it in all directions. This means keeping furniture, curtains, bedding, papers, and other flammable materials far away.
Some people place space heaters near their bookshelves without even thinking about how dangerous it could be to have that heat next to paper! Maintaining a three-foot safety zone is one of the most critical safety tips for space heaters.
2. Never Plug Space Heaters Into Power Strips or Extension Cords
Always plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. This might seem inconvenient, but there’s a good reason for it. Space heaters draw a lot of power — way more than most extension cords or power strips can handle. When you plug a high-wattage device like this into an extension cord, it can overheat and start a fire. There have even been instances of melted power strips where someone tried to run their portable heaters through them. The wall outlet is your safest bet every time.
3. Don’t Leave Your Space Heater Unattended
We’ve all done it — turned on a device and walked away. But leaving a space heater unattended is asking for trouble. These heating systems need supervision, especially when kids or pets are around. They can knock them over, block the airflow, or bring flammable items too close. Plus, if anything starts to go wrong, like unusual sounds, smells, or performance, you need to be there to catch it early. You wouldn’t leave a pot boiling on the stove while you run errands, right? Your space heater deserves the same attention.
4. Place Your Heater on Flat, Stable Surfaces Only
Your space heater should always sit on a solid, level surface where it won’t tip over. Many newer models have tip-over protection that automatically shuts them off if they fall, but don’t rely on this feature alone. Putting a portable heater on a carpet, especially a thick pile carpet, can block air intake or cause overheating. The soft, uneven surface increases tip-over risk, and bedding can easily catch fire. Treat your space heater kind of like you would treat a candle.
5. Check Your Smoke Alarms When Using Supplemental Heat
Before you start using a space heater for the season, test all your smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms can literally save your life if something goes wrong with your heating equipment. Many home heating fires happen at night when people are sleeping, so early warning is important.
Take a minute to picture the layout of your home — do you have enough alarms? Are they all working? That simple beep might be annoying during a test, but it’s the sound that could give your family the critical seconds needed to escape a fire.
6. Never Use the Same Outlet for Multiple High-Wattage Devices
Your space heater should have its own dedicated wall outlet. Plugging other high-power devices into the same outlet can overload your electrical circuit. Most homes have 15 or 20-amp circuits, and a typical space heater uses 12 to 15 amps by itself! Add a TV or lamp to the same outlet, and you’re pushing your wiring beyond safe limits. This can trip breakers at best or cause electrical fires at worst. Electrical jams are much more dangerous than traffic jams. Give your space heater its own electrical “lane” for safety.
7. Inspect Your Heater Regularly for Damage or Wear
Before each use, take a good look at your space heater. Check the cord for fraying, cracks, or damage. Look for loose connections, damaged plugs, or any signs of overheating, like discoloration. If you spot any problems, it’s time to replace the heater — no questions asked. A faulty product is a huge safety risk, especially when it’s something that uses as much electric power as a space heater. Old or damaged portable electric space heaters aren’t worth the risk. Give it a quick inspection, and if something seems wrong or if the space heater isn’t working as it should, try looking for a replacement.
Stay Warm and Safe This Season
Space heaters can be true lifesavers when you need that extra warmth in a cold room. They save money on heating bills, warm up quickly, and let you control exactly where the heat goes. But like most good things in life, they come with some important safety considerations. Focus on these seven tips, and you’ll take big steps toward staying safe while these products are in your home.
At Staley Electric, we can inspect your electrical system with our thorough safety checklist and provide services like electrical panel upgrades so they can handle a stronger workload. This helps protect against surges and keeps you from overloading your electrical panel when using space heaters or other high-power devices. Give us a call today to schedule a service in Little Rock, AR, or one of the surrounding areas!
