12 things you should know about portable space heaters

When used correctly and carefully, a space heater can be a good way to add some supplemental heat to your home, but using one is never without risk. Before you plug in your heater to preheat a cold room this fall or winter, check out our guide to proper space heater use.

Are space heaters safe?

If used correctly, yes, but the key is that space heaters must be used correctly – following safety guidelines regarding the appliance’s condition and its use.

And what if a space heater isn’t being used correctly? Well, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that every year, more than 1,700 residential fires, 160 injuries, and 80 deaths can be attributed to misuse of space heaters. Those numbers are high enough that the United State’s top fire official made a major push to educate citizens about fire safety this year in an effort to save more lives.

Gas-powered vs electric space heaters

There are two main kinds of portable space heaters: gas and electric.

Gas-powered space heaters, also called small combustion space heaters, use kerosene, propane, or another fuel (never gasoline) to heat a space. Depending on the price of fuel, they are typically more energy efficient and less expensive to run than their electrical counterparts. However, gas-powered space heaters pose additional risks.

Aside from the open flame, they can also produce carbon monoxide gas, which can quickly become deadly if your home is not properly ventilated. Do not use a gas-powered space heater if you do not have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home.

Electrical space heaters are generally safer than gas-powered heaters, but they are less energy efficient and more expensive to run.

12 things you need to know about portable space heaters

From what to look for when you buy to how to use one once you have it, we’ve got you covered with 12 tips for safe space heater use in your home.

1. Space heaters are for supplemental heat only

A space heater isn’t going to warm your whole house or even an entire room if the space is big enough. Keep this in mind. Space heaters are not a permanent solution to a house that is too drafty to hold heat or a furnace that can’t keep up with a household’s needs.

2. When buying, look for a safety certification

Most portable space heaters now need to be reviewed and approved by independent safety testing labs. When you’re looking for a new space heater, make sure you’re buying one that is safety certified.

In the United States, safety certifications will usually show as a UL (Underwriter Laboratories) or ETL (Intertek) label on the packaging.

3. Don’t skip on the safety features

Here in the US, portable space heaters don’t generally come with many bells and whistles, but there are a few vital safety features you’ll want to look for before you buy:

• A grill cover and cool-touch casing

• A sturdy, heavy duty power cord

• Automatic shut-off in the event that the heater tips over

• Built-in thermostat with overheat protection

4. Check the manual

Once you’ve bought your space heater, you’ll want to make sure you familiarize yourself with the manual. Not only will it tell you how everything works, it’ll give you some specific safety guidelines to follow. While there are some basic safety tips that everyone should follow when using any space heater – and we’ll get into those more below – some space heaters require a bit more care and prep than others. This is especially true if we’re talking combustion (kerosine, etc.) space heaters vs electric space heaters.

To ensure you are using your space heater safely, then, you need to read the manual. You may find that the manufacturer of your space heater has stated limits on how long a space heater can be run before it needs to be shut off. There may be additional guidelines about how far from walls or outlets the space heater needs to be placed. Follow the rules they’ve laid out to ensure the safety of your home and family.

5. Inspect your space heater before every use

For electric heaters, look your space heater over before you even plug it in. You want the power cord to be in good shape without any fraying or bubbling. The space heater itself should sit flat and even on the floor without wobbling.

For gas-powered heaters, check for signs of rust or damage. The U.S. Department of Energy also strongly advises that small space heaters like these be professionally inspected every year.

Once you’ve started your heater up, make sure to check for signs of malfunction, as well. For electric heaters, you want to make sure the screen or buttons are responsive and features like the anti-tip work. For gas heaters, look at the flame, and consult your user manual to ensure it is the right color – it should generally be blue.

6. Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working

Your home should have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor in your home, including the basement. Smoke alarms should likewise be on every floor and within 10 feet of each bedroom. This should be your baseline, in general, and it is crucial if you are using a space heater. Do not run a small combustion space heater in your home if you do not have a carbon monoxide detector.

Check the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every few months and replace them as necessary. If you hear that dreaded intermittent chirp from somewhere in your home, it means one or more of a smoke alarm’s batteries has died and needs to be replaced.

7. Set your space heater up in the right spot

Your space heater should be:

• Set up on a flat, stable surface, preferably the floor.

• Plugged directly into an otherwise empty wall outlet. Do not use extension cords or power strips with a space heater, and do not plug anything else into the outlet the space heater is using. Doing any of these things can potentially lead to overheating at the plug, which can cause a fire.

• Set out of the way of foot traffic. Never block pathways or doorways with a space heater.

• At least three feet from anything flammable. Furniture, linens, curtains, papers in a waste basket – make sure all of these items are well out of the way of the space heater. Space heaters dry out and heat up anything nearby, and when this happens to something flammable, it becomes a serious safety hazard.

• Kept out of reach of children and pets. If you have kids, cats, or dogs, you know this can be a challenge, but make sure that your smallest family members are kept at least three feet away from a running space heater at all times.

• Kept away from water. This probably seems obvious! Don’t run a space heater in a bathroom or kitchen.

• Kept outside, if it’s a ventless (unvented, or vent-free) gas-powered heater. Ventless heaters generally should not be used indoors at all, according to The Department of Energy.

8. Never run your space heater unattended

It can be tempting to turn on your space heater to preheat a room or keep someplace warm while you aren’t around, but that’s a serious safety risk. If you have to leave the house, leave the room, or are on your way to bed, shut off your space heater. Think of a space heater like a candle – don’t leave that open heat source without supervision.

9. Don’t hide the cord

It may be tempting to put the cord for your electric space heater out of sight, but the most common methods of hiding cords, like running them under rugs, can also over-insulate them. Heat won’t be able to escape the cord, which can lead to overheating or fires.

11. If you have a combustion space heater, use the right fuel

Never use gasoline in a combustion space heater, and never add fuel while the heater is still hot. Consult your product manual to learn more about which fuel you should be using and how much of it you should add. Fuel expands as it warms, risking a spill if you overfill.

12. Know that electric space heaters aren’t energy efficient

EnergyStar does not have ratings for portable space heaters for a reason. They draw a lot of power when they run, which will be reflected in your electrical bill. Some electric space heaters do come with wattage control that can help alleviate this, but no matter what, you’ll still be using a fair bit of electricity to heat a room with a space heater.

More information

We hope this guide has helped alleviate some of your concerns about space heaters. By following basic safety rules and your appliance’s manufacturer guidelines, you can confidently warm up your living spaces.

If you have any appliance repair needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our thousands of free videos and troubleshooting guides available. If you need replacement parts or some extra help, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, order parts, read our DIY blog and more.

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