DO
NOT USE AN EXTENSION CORD OR POWER STRIP WITH AN ELECTRIC SPACE HEATER. IT CAN OVERLOAD THE CIRCUIT AND CAUSE FIRE.
An electric space heater’s power cord is
not intended to be used with an extension cord. If you are unable to plug the unit directly
into a socket and have to use an extension cord, consider using a heavy-duty
cord marked with a #14 gauge or larger wire (#12 gauge is larger than #14
gauge). An incorrectly sized cord could
create a fire hazard. If the heater’s plug has a grounding prong, use only a
grounding (three-wire) extension cord.
Not only is the wiring within a typical
household extension cord too small for the power that the heater requires, its
additional length also adds to the resistance and therefore the heat that is
produced within the cords. This excess heat can lead to a fire.
In a recent deadly fire, a couple borrowed
at least two space heaters from the motor home after the trailer’s furnace quit
working. Extension cords running from
the main house and barn powered the space heaters, frequently blowing circuit
breakers. Eventually a fire ended up destroying
their trailer and took their lives. All
this is preventable.
In another case, a fire that led to the deaths
of two people, started when sparks from an overheated extension cord ignited a
mattress and bedding at an apartment. The
fire had been caused by combustible materials near an electric space heater,
according to preliminary findings by fire marshals.
Never, ever, EVER use an extension cord to plug
in a space heater. If you don’t know what wire
gauge is and what the maximum amp rating of the extension cord is and the amp
rating of the space heater, then no–you can’t plug a space heater into it.
Space heaters that use cheap lamp cords to
plug into the walls are the most dangerous. If you feel the wire and
plug getting warm during usage, unplug the space heater right away and stop
using it. Before you buy a space heater, ask the store if you can open
the box so you can inspect the plug. Thicker gauge wiring on the
appliance is safer.
The outlet you plug a space heater into
should not have anything else plugged into it.
If you have circuit breakers and you are
tripping them when the space heater is turned on, that is a BIG WARNING SIGN. You
are overloading that circuit in your house–that’s why the breaker keeps
tripping. It’s doing its job and trying to prevent you from setting your
house on fire. Switch to a different outlet that you know is on a different
circuit or start shedding load until you get it down to where the circuit can
handle it.
If you’re bursting fuses when you’re
running the space heater–like when your microwave oven is running the space
heater is turned on, STOP. You’re risking catastrophe. Call an
electrician and ask to have new service installed for your space heater.
It’s either that, or search your house for a circuit that isn’t overloaded.
In an old house with only 4 to 6 circuits that is hard to do with all
the TVs and computers that are in old houses these days.
Never run the heater’s cord (or any cord)
under rugs or carpeting.
Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting &
Forensics (MECF)
Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and
Consulting Services
P.O. Box 520
Tenafly, NJ 07670-0520
Tel.: (973) 897-8162
Fax: (973) 810-0440
E-mail: metroforensics@gmail.com
We are happy to announce the launch of our twitter
account. Please make sure to follow us at @MetropForensics or @metroforensics
To unsubscribe from future technical blogs and
announcements, please reply to this email with the word “unsubscribe” in the
subject line.
Metropolitan appreciates your business.
Feel free to recommend our services to your friends and colleagues.
