Never Plug This Essential Winter Appliance Into A Power Strip: You'll Seriously Regret It

It would be hard to run our homes without at least some devices and appliances, most of which need electricity to work. We charge our phones, laptops, devices, and Bluetooth speakers via outlets in the wall. We plug in televisions, toaster ovens, and hairdryers. The modems and wireless hubs that connect us to the world are, in turn, connected to the grid. Many of us don't have enough outlets in our homes to accommodate all of these items, making power strips a necessity. These handy gadgets are perfect for using with gaming consoles, lamps, standing fans, and other light-load devices. You should never plug heavy-load appliances into a power strip — and, no matter how cold it gets, that includes your space heater.

Power strips extend electrical current from the wall to wherever we need it and expand the number of appliances a single socket can accommodate. Some power strips also have a built-in surge protector. Power surges happen when there is a sudden increase in electrical current, which can be caused by lightning, downed power lines, or a problem in the grid. Surge protectors safeguard your devices and your home from these sudden power surges by redirecting excess current to a ground wire. While you can DIY a chic wooden box to hide unsightly cord clutter, neither surge protectors nor aesthetic fixes will mitigate the dangers of overloading a power strip with appliances that draw too much power, like space heaters.

Space heaters use a lot of electricity — about 1,500 watts — to generate heat.  A typical power strip can handle 1,800 to 2,400 watts across all plugged-in appliances and devices. You should keep the total wattage of everything plugged into a power strip below 80% of the gadget's capacity. Overloading a power strip can cause it to overheat, and that can lead to a fire. In fact, space heaters are responsible for one-third of fires — and the highest number of injuries and deaths — linked to home heating equipment in the U.S. Even if plugging your space heater into a power strip doesn't start a fire, it can repeatedly overheat the device. A consistently overheated power strip gets weaker over time, making it more susceptible to catching fire.

There's a simple solution to this problem: Always plug your space heater directly into a wall outlet. It's one of the best ways to help protect your home against fires through the winter. Make sure, too, that it has a long enough cord that you can place it at least 3 feet away from anything flammable — curtains, upholstered furniture, rugs, and more. You don't need to avoid space heaters altogether. They're great for heating a small room, such as a living room or home office, without bumping up the thermostat. Do your research to make sure you're buying the safest space heater possible. Websites like Consumer Reports reveal the best space heaters for your home, budget picks included, each year.