Electric Portable Space Heater Safety

Don’t Burn Down Your House!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that portable electric heaters are involved in
over 1,000 house fires per year.

Space Heater Safety Tips:

Choosing a Space Heater

• Make sure your space heater is safety-certified by a recognized testing laboratory such as UL, CSA or ETL. Look for the label on the heater! (See list)
• Look for a heater that automatically shuts off if it overheats.
• Look for a heater that automatically shuts off if it tips over.
• Choose a heater with a thermostat in order to increase comfort control and improve safety.
• Select a heater with a long, sturdy cord.
• If you have access to Consumer Reports Digital Access you can see their recommended models based on temperature control, safety, noise, and ease of use. (Your local library’s website might provide free online access.)

Using your Space Heater

• Never leave a space heater on when unattended. Turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep. Unplug it when you’re finished using it.
• Read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully. Safety rules can vary for different kinds of space heaters.
• Before each use, check for damage to the cord and plug. Replace the heater if you find damage.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from things that can burn such as beds, sofas, rugs, curtains, clothing and papers. Don’t use near near matches, paint, or gas cans!
• Place the space heater on a stable, hard, flat non-flammable surface, such as tile floor, hardwood floor, or a metal tray.
• Placing heaters on elevated surfaces like cabinets, desks, and tables is not recommended unless it’s a compact personal/desktop heater designed and rated for this use. Otherwise it increases the risk of being knocked over and burning you or starting a fire.
• Avoid placing the heater on carpet unless your specific model says it’s designed to be used on short/low‑pile carpet.
• If you’re going to use the heater on carpeting, place it on a non-flammable hard, flat surface like a large ceramic tile or a metal sheet/tray to add stability to the heater. It should be larger than the heater’s base.
• Don’t place your space heater where you can trip on it. Don’t let pets or children within three feet of a space heater.
• Never place a space heater in a child’s bedroom.
• Keep water away from electric heaters and don’t use a space heater in a bathroom unless it’s specifically designed for bathroom use. If there’s any chance of water exposure, choose a model specifically rated for that use and equipped with a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) safety plug or plug it into a GFCI‑protected outlet. (See Consumer Reports – Is It Safe to Use a Space Heater in the Bathroom?)

Cord & Outlet Safety

• Space heaters should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Don’t plug it into a power strip or extension cord which can overheat and start a fire.
• Don’t plug anything else into the same duplex outlet with the heater. Portable space heaters draw a lot of power and adding additional load can overheat wiring or trip breakers. A low-wattage device like a phone charger might be acceptable.
• Note that several outlets can be part of the same circuit. Ideally, a space heater should get its own circuit (similar to a microwave, refrigerator, or electric clothes dryer). If your space heater trips your circuit breaker, try unplugging other high power using items.
• The plug should fit tightly into your wall outlet. If not, do not use that outlet.
• Don’t run the heater’s cord under a rug. This can damage the cord.
• During use, check often to see if the heater cord, plug, or wall outlet/faceplate are hot. If so, stop using the space heater. If the wall outlet/faceplate or plug is hot or discolored, lights are flickering, or there’s a burning smell, hire a licensed electrician to inspect/repair the outlet/circuit.
• If only the cord is hot you might need to repair or replace the space heater. You can try plugging the heater into different wall outlet on a different circuit to see if it still gets got. If it doesn’t, have an a licensed electrician repair the outlet/circuit causing the overheating.

More Tips

• Clean your space heater regularly. Dust and hair can build‑up and reduce efficiency and increase fire risk. Following the instructions for your space heater, clean it every few weeks during regular use, and more thoroughly once per year. Also perform any maintenance recommended in the instruction manual.
• If a space heater is old (8-10 years or more) old, consider replacing it even if it still works. The useful life of portable electric space heaters is roughly 5–10 years. Plus safety standards and protective features improve over time.
• Make sure you have smoke alarms on every floor of your home and in all sleeping areas and test them every month.

Sources and Further Reading:

Consumer Reports – How to Use Your Space Heater Safely

Consumer Reports – Space Heater Buying Guide

Electrical Safety Foundation International – Space Heater Safety Tips

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – Reducing Fire Hazards for Portable Electric Heaters (PDF)

Better Homes & Gardens – These Appliances Should Never Be Plugged into the Same Outlet, According to Electrical Experts