# Space Heater Safety **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845 "2011-10-26T12:57:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845/1 "2011-10-26T12:57:31Z")
Is plugging a heating device into a power strip (as opposed to directly plugging into an outlet) unsafe? If the device is Wattage rating is less than the power strip’s rating for max watts, is there a problem? And, what about the cord that comes with such a device? Wouldn’t the power strip’s cord be rated to handle the max wattage of the power strip? A little more detail: FYI: The heater uses 80% of the strip’s rated wattage. Presently, I have a LCD monitor and PC laptop plugged into this power strip. What margin of safety , if any, should one leave? Or, can I max-out the power strip to its rated value? ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845/2 "2011-10-26T14:01:16Z")
Those heaters come with fat little short cords for a reason. The longer the cord and more resistance, the greater the heat build-up. But that’s not the main concern. The more connections you have the more chance of arcing occurring. We have so many imported power strips of low quality that it is a concern. The arcing can occur at internal crimps in the wire at the plug end and inside the strip. The heat can be great enough to cause a fire without tripping any breaker. If you had arc fault interrupters, that would help of course. Bottom line: I’d say you were safe as long as you check for heat all around from time to time and do not leave the device unattended. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845/4 "2012-01-30T05:21:36Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845/5 "2012-01-30T05:34:09Z")
Reported for what? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845/6 "2012-01-30T05:37:46Z")
That spam post. Notice the link at the end? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845/7 "2012-01-30T05:45:18Z")
The thing is that it’s actually a user manual for a specific brand of heater which is a damn weird way of spamming. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-heater-safety/600845/8 "2012-01-30T06:03:35Z")
Yes. but it’s hosted by the spammer’s website and is driving traffic there.