As a severe cold snap grips the nation, safety experts have issued an urgent warning to households across the UK about a dangerous habit that could turn a portable heater into a serious fire hazard.
The Critical Mistake You Must Avoid
With temperatures plummeting, many are reaching for portable electric heaters to warm up rooms quickly and cheaply. However, specialists at Hawkesworth Appliance Testing Ltd have highlighted a widespread and risky error. Their advice is unequivocal: never plug your electric heater into an extension lead or power strip.
The firm states that plugging a heater directly into a wall socket is the only safe method. Using an extension lead not only risks causing the unit to overheat but the trailing cables also create a trip hazard, making it easier for the heater to be knocked over.
Why Extension Leads Can't Handle the Heat
This warning is echoed by electrical contractors, including the team at O'Brien Electrical Contractors. They explain that space heaters demand a high electrical load, drawing more current than standard extension cords or power strips are designed to handle.
"The increased load will result in higher temperatures from the cord during operation, so much so, it can even melt the power strip or extension cord," they cautioned. This overheating can rapidly escalate into a full-blown electrical fire, which is among the most dangerous types of domestic blazes.
Expert Electrician Backs the Warning
Qualified electrician Adam Nelson reinforced the message in an interview with Homes and Gardens. He emphasised that space heaters are a natural fire risk and should always be connected to a direct wall outlet.
This practice helps ensure the appliance is protected by the circuit breakers in your home's main electrical panel, preventing dangerous overloads. The consensus among professionals is clear: for the sake of home safety, that convenient extension lead must be avoided when using any portable heating device.
The guidance, issued as Britain faces freezing conditions, serves as a crucial reminder that while electric heaters provide welcome warmth, their misuse can have devastating consequences.
