If you’ve ever wondered about plugging your space heater into a smart plug, you are not alone. In this post, we’ll talk about why you might think about plugging a space heater into a smart plug. We’ll also look into the potential risks, like fire hazards and electrical overload concerns. Finally, we’ll touch on some alternatives to using a smart plug, like smart space heaters with built-in features and other safe power solutions. So, if you’re debating plugging your space heater into a smart plug, keep reading to get a clear picture of what to consider.
Reasons You Might Be Tempted to Use a Smart Plug with Space Heaters
Space heaters are great for warming up small rooms during the colder months while saving energy by not heating the whole house. Using a smart plug or smart outlet with your space heater sounds like a great idea that can offer a level of convenience and automation that traditional outlets cannot provide. With a smart plug, you can control your space heater remotely using your smartphone or a virtual assistant. This means you can turn your heater on or off from anywhere, which can be useful if you forget to switch it off when you leave home. Additionally, you can schedule the heater to operate at specific times, ensuring your space is warm when you need it to be without manually turning it on or off.
However, you really don’t want to be using a space heater with a smart plug for one big reason.
Risks of Using a Smart Plug with Space Heaters
Using a smart plug with a space heater can cause a fire hazard. Space heaters typically draw a substantial amount of power, and most smart plugs are not designed to handle this level of electricity. If a smart plug is not capable of supporting the power requirements of the heater, it could overheat. This overheating could lead to the plug melting or causing an electrical fire. No one wants a house fire caused by their space heater. For this reason alone, you do not want to use a space heater with a smart plug.
There are also concerns about electrical overload when using a space heater. Connecting a space heater to a smart plug, a power strip, an extension cord, or even a heavily used circuit in your home’s electrical system can cause heavier than intended loads in the circuit. Since space heaters are high-wattage devices, they can put a significant load on the electrical circuit. If the circuit is not designed to handle that much electricity, it could trip the breaker or, in the worst-case scenario, cause an electrical short. This could lead to damage to the electrical system or create an even bigger safety hazard. You should also ensure that your electrical system can handle the added load before using a space heater.
Alternatives to Using a Smart Plug for Space Heaters
For those who want the features of using a smart plug with a space heater, we recommend using a smart space heater. Since all of the smart technology is built into a smart space heater, these devices will reduce the chance of causing an electrical fire by overloading a smart plug.
Smart space heaters are the best way to get smart features with a space heater and remain safe. These smart devices are designed with integrated smart technology, allowing you to control them with a smartphone app or with a voice command. This can provide a more seamless and efficient experience compared to using a separate smart plug. Additionally, smart space heaters often come with safety features like timed use, automatic shut-off and desired temperature control. These features are nice if you are concerned about safety or just want to save some money by only running the heater when necessary.
In Summary
Deciding whether to use a smart plug with your space heater involves weighing the convenience and energy monitoring benefits against the potential risks of fire hazards and electrical overload. We say that it’s not worth the risk of using a smart plug with a space heater. Instead, we recommend you use a smart space heater with built-in smart features.
