Maintain a 36-inch minimum distance between any heat producing appliance and combustibles. A space heater was blamed for causing a house fire with $80,000 in damage on Sunday, November 25 in Ogden. Nearly half of all space heater fires involve electric space heaters Heaters. With newer power strips drawing too much power will just trip the internal breaker, so you're just left with a minor inconvenience instead of a fire. Whatcom Fire District 14 is sharing a warning on Facebook from an Oregon fire district to never plug a space heater into a power strip. The Electrical Safety Foundation International says space heaters can overheat a power strip, as well as an extension cord, and ... Don’t locate them in high traffic areas, or anyplace they might be a tripping hazard. It's the only item plugged into the outlet. Run an orange extension cord to power your space heater from an unused bedroom. A propane space heater is the only type of space heater that doesn’t use electricity as a power source. Overheating the Circuit . Facebook If your home is wired with dedicated circuits (only one wall outlet on a circuit) that wall outlet should be used with the space heaters. Since propane space heaters use fuel, this makes them the most portable space heaters you can buy. That overheating is leads to the sparking of a fire. The circuit Circuit breakers, sometimes called fuses, limit your power usage to a level that the wiring system can safely handle. The Belkin WeMo Switch, one of the more popular smart outlets, is rated at handling a max power draw of 1,800 watts, and anything more than that would likely trip the breaker anyway. The dangers of space heaters and powerstrips. Instead, it uses liquid propane (LP) to fuel its operation. A Fire Department Weighs In. These are the kinds of circuits many folks use for their portable space heaters, and that’s the beginning of the problem. Power strips are not designed or equipped to safely handle the energy load and extra electrical current flow that a space heater generates. Here’s some more explanation: Extension cords usually can’t handle high current. Circuit breakers, sometimes called fuses, limit your power usage to a level that the wiring system can safely handle. Are power strips safer than extension cords? When the power demand exceeds how much a circuit can handle, the breaker snaps … My friend used a power strip to plug in his refrigerator, burned up his power strip. Remember that power strips are not surge protectors, but even still, many space heaters come with specific instructions, often to plug them only directly into the socket. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater. You need to look at the situation and determine why it is tripped or call a professional. Make sure you have smoke detectors and that they work properly. If you plan to use portable electric space heaters, power strips, or extension cords, make sure to follow these tips and recommendations. It is never a good idea to plug one in to a power strip, surge protector, or multi-outlet box as it should be plugged directly into the wall. These can’t always handle the amount of power required and can become a safety hazard, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Email. These units are not designed to handle the high current flow needed for a space heater and can overheat or even catch fire due to the added energy flow.” Umatilla County Fire District #1 in Hermiston, Oregon . The one exception to this rule is a surge protector that has an on and off switch. The Belkin WeMo Switch, one of the more popular smart outlets, is rated at handling a max power draw of 1,800 watts, and anything more than that would likely trip the breaker anyway. As temperatures continue to drop in metro Atlanta, be sure to heed warnings from fire officials to avoid plugging in space heaters into an extension cord or a power strip. One Oregon fire department recently pointed out on Facebook that residents should never ever plug a space heater into a power strip. It’s rule No. according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "The weather is getting colder, and people are pulling out their space heaters. An overcurrent protective device at your home’s main electrical panel shuts down power before any damage can occur during an overload – usually, it does this by tripping a circuit breaker. WATCH: Dog Alerts Sleeping Family to Fire in House A social media post from a fire department that warns about plugging space heaters into power strips is making the rounds once again. “You should never plug a heater into a power strip. Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Power strips are a highly sought after commodity. When the power demand exceeds how much a circuit can handle, the breaker snaps and shuts it down. That being said, heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. We just wanted to remind you that you should NEVER plug a heater into a power strip… This Romper article explores a question many consumers might have; space heater safety standards advise never to plug a space heater into an extension cord, but what about a surge protected power strip? Instead, it uses liquid propane (LP) to fuel its operation. Author: Dawn Kendrick Published: 11:46 PM EST November 13, 2017 Because power strips and extension cords are not equipped to handle the extra current that is required to power a space heater, they can overheat and cause a fire. Just google “space heater + power strip,” and you will see what we meant. I bought a new space heater and after about 10 minutes the trip on the surge protector shuts it off. Plug Directly into an Outlet. Upon the first reset attempt, I heard some buzzing, heard the snap of an obvious arc possibly emanating from my home office area. It's the only item plugged into the outlet. On the low setting, the space heater’s current draw can be reduced by as much as 60%, further reducing the load on a circuit. Do not use an extension cord with an electric space heater. Since propane space heaters use fuel, this makes them the most portable space heaters you can buy. The internet is full of images and stories of people who managed to either burn down a section of their home, or at the very least, turn their power strip into a black and molten pile of plastic, due to having a space heater plugged into it. Read on to find out. I unplugged one heater before resetting the breaker. We just wanted to remind you that you should NEVER plug a heater into a power strip… With an older power strip, a low quality one, or one that has been damaged it's possible that overloading it will cause a fire. FREE Shipping. Power strips are a highly sought after commodity. Space heaters usually consume upward of 1,000 watts, making them the kind of appliance that requires a dedicated circuit – not a general one. This room is an add on room, made in the 80's. This Romper article explores a question many consumers might have; space heater safety standards advise never to plug a space heater into an extension cord, but what about a surge protected power strip? CHARLES: But when you plug in the space heater, it shuts down all the power. When a space heater trips the circuit breaker, that is a warning signal for you. The heating element inside a space heater can reach temperatures ranging from 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. 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