Plug-in heater safety checklist
- Plug it into a wall socket in good condition: no scorch marks, cracks or loose fit.
- One plug per socket. No extension leads or adaptors unless the instructions allow them.
- Keep at least one metre between the heater and furniture, curtains or bedding.
- Never cover the heater or dry clothes on or near it.
- Keep the grille free of dust and fluff.
- Watch children, pets and anyone with limited mobility around any heater.
- Switch off and unplug before going out or going to sleep.
- Don't use it in a bathroom or near water unless the manufacturer says it's suitable.
- Read and keep the instructions; register the product if offered.
- Fit smoke alarms and test them regularly.
Where to put a plug-in heater
Because a plug-in heater hangs from the socket, the socket is the placement decision. Choose one that's out in the open, not behind a sofa, under a desk full of paper, or next to a bed or curtains. Electrical Safety First recommends keeping heaters at least one metre from furniture and curtains.
The London Fire Brigade notes that heater fires typically start when bedding, blankets or clothes are placed too close, and that people with mobility issues are at extra risk of tripping or falling onto a heater. Keep the area in front of the heater clear of anything that could fall onto it.
If the only free socket is in an unsuitable spot, a plug-in heater may not be the right choice for that room.
Extension leads, adaptors and sockets
Heaters draw a lot of current: a 2,000 W heater draws close to 9 amps, and a UK plug is commonly fused at 13 amps. Overloaded extension leads and adaptors are a common cause of electrical fires, which is why UK fire services advise keeping to one plug per socket for high-powered appliances.
Plug-in heaters are designed for a wall socket, and their shape often won't sit properly in an extension lead anyway. If a plug feels loose in the socket, or the socket gets warm, stop using it and get the socket checked by a qualified electrician.
Bedrooms and overnight use
Electrical Safety First's advice is to switch off and unplug heaters before going to sleep. A timer is the practical answer: warm the bedroom for half an hour before bed, then let the heater switch itself off. The RapidHeat has a Timer button on its remote. The seller states a timer of up to 12 hours, but shorter settings are the sensible choice in a bedroom.
Keep duvets, throws and clothes well away from the heater, and never put it where bedding could slide onto it.
Children, pets and older relatives
The grille and the air coming out of a heater can be hot. Keep young children and pets from touching it, and don't let them play near a socket with a heater in it. For older relatives or anyone unsteady on their feet, choose a socket away from walkways so there's nothing to trip or fall onto.
The seller says the RapidHeat has overheat protection and automatic shut-off. These are seller statements, so see how they're labelled on the specifications page. Safety features don't replace supervision.
Safety marks and product recalls
CE and UKCA marks are a manufacturer's declaration that a product meets the relevant rules for the EU or Great Britain. RoHS concerns restricted hazardous substances. The RapidHeat box carries CE and RoHS marks. These are useful signs, but none is an independent performance test.
Before buying any heater, and from time to time afterwards, check the UK government's product safety alerts, reports and recalls list. Buying from a brand's official store also makes it clearer who to contact if there's a problem.
Warning signs: stop using the heater if you notice
- A burning or plastic smell
- Scorch marks on the plug, socket or casing
- The plug or socket feels hot to the touch
- Crackling, buzzing or sparking
- Repeated tripping of your fuse box
- Damaged casing or a loose plug
Switch off at the socket if it's safe to do so, unplug the heater and contact the seller. If there's smoke or fire, get out and call 999.
Plug-in heater safety questions
Are plug-in heaters safe?
A plug-in heater is safe to use when you follow the manufacturer's instructions and basic fire safety: a sound wall socket, clear space around it, never covered, and switched off and unplugged when you go out or go to sleep.
Are plug-in heaters dangerous?
UK fire services say fires involving heaters have a particularly high fatality rate, usually because bedding, blankets or clothes were too close. Most risks can be avoided with the checks on this page.
Can I use a plug-in heater with an extension lead?
Heaters are high-power appliances, and overloaded extension leads are a common cause of electrical fires. Plug heaters directly into a wall socket and keep to one plug per socket, unless the instructions say otherwise.
Can I leave a plug-in heater on overnight?
Electrical Safety First advises switching off and unplugging heaters before going to sleep. Use a timer to warm the bedroom before bed instead.
Can I use a plug-in heater in the bathroom?
Only if the manufacturer states it is designed for bathrooms. Ordinary plug-in heaters should be kept away from water, and UK bathrooms have strict rules about sockets.
How far should a heater be from furniture?
Electrical Safety First recommends keeping a heater at least one metre away from furniture and curtains.
What do CE, UKCA and RoHS marks mean?
CE and UKCA are the manufacturer's declaration that a product meets the relevant rules for Europe or Great Britain. RoHS relates to restricted hazardous substances in electronics. None of them is an independent test of heating performance.