Experts Warn Against These 4 Common Space Heater Mistakes—Here’s How to Stay Safe
It’s that time of year again. (space heater mistakes). The air is getting crisp, the days are getting shorter, and your significant other has declared a one-person war on the thermostat. Before you know it, you’re shivering in your own home, desperately clutching a lukewarm mug and contemplating building an indoor bonfire. Enter the humble space heater: the unsung hero of chilly nights and the silent champion of domestic temperature disputes.
But hold on. Before you unbox that bad boy and crank it up to “volcano,” let’s have a little chat about space heater mistakes. As it turns out, these portable heat boxes are responsible for a shocking number of home fires, injuries, and even deaths. Between 2016 and 2020, a staggering 88% of home heating fire deaths involved space heater mistakes. Yikes.
It seems common sense isn’t so common after all. To save you from becoming a cautionary tale, here are the most common (and frankly, baffling) space heater mistakes people make—and how to avoid them.
Are You Trying to Start a Fire?
The number one rule of Space Heater Club is: give it some space. These things get hot. Like, really hot. Yet, every year, people seem to think it’s a fantastic idea to snuggle their heater right up against curtains, blankets, rugs, or that precarious pile of magazines you swear you’re going to read one day.
News flash: flammable materials, well, flame.
Safety experts, who are presumably tired of repeating themselves about these space heater mistakes, recommend a strict three-foot “no-go” zone around your heater. Think of it as the heater’s personal bubble. Don’t crowd it. Don’t put things on it. Just let it do its job from a safe, respectable distance. This also goes for kids and pets, who are notoriously bad at respecting personal space and understanding the concept of third-degree burns.
Location, Location, Location
Where you place your heater is almost as important as what you place it near. You’d think a flat, stable surface would be a no-brainer, but apparently not. Putting a space heater on a wobbly table or a plush, high-pile carpet is just asking for it to be knocked over.
Most modern heaters have an automatic shut-off feature for this very reason, but do you really want to test it? Find a nice, clear spot on a hard floor. It’s not just about preventing a tip-over; it’s about ensuring proper airflow so the unit doesn’t overheat and decide to spontaneously combust. And unless your heater is specifically rated for bathroom use (most aren’t), keep it far away from water to avoid these space heater mistakes. Electricity and water are a famously bad combo.
The Extension Cord of Doom
Listen up, because this is a big one. Never, ever plug a space heater into an extension cord or a power strip. I don’t care if it’s the beefiest, most industrial-looking extension cord you own. Don’t do it.
Space heaters are power hogs. They pull a massive amount of electricity, and most extension cords simply aren’t built to handle that kind of load. They can overheat, melt, and start a fire inside your walls where you won’t see it until it’s too late. The heater’s plug should go directly into a wall outlet. If the cord doesn’t reach, move your chair, not the heater. It’s a simple rule that could save your life.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
When it comes to space heaters, size matters. Using a heater that’s too big for your tiny home office is not only overkill, but it can also be a safety hazard. Conversely, a tiny heater trying to warm up a cavernous living room is just going to run itself into the ground without making a dent in the chill.
It’s all about efficiency. An oversized heater will cycle on and off constantly, wasting energy, while an undersized one will run continuously, also wasting energy and potentially overheating. Match the heater to the room size. It’s more effective and won’t send your electricity bill to the moon.
The Set-It-and-Forget-It Mentality
A space heater is not a crockpot. You can’t just turn it on and leave the house for eight hours, hoping for a warm and cozy welcome when you return. An unattended space heater is one of the leading causes of home fires.
Make it a habit to turn it off every single time you leave the room or go to bed. And don’t just turn it off—unplug it. This eliminates any risk of an electrical malfunction while it’s not in use. When winter’s over, store it properly in a dry, safe place, ready for its next tour of duty. Your future, non-burnt-down house will thank you.
The Bottom Line
Staying warm shouldn’t come at the cost of safety. Avoiding common space heater mistakes can prevent fires and protect your home. From improper placement to overloading outlets, these space heater mistakes are easier to make than you might think. By staying alert and correcting these space heater mistakes, you can enjoy cozy comfort all winter long without worry.
