Space heater tripping the breaker

Symptoms

• Breaker trips shortly after turning the heater on
• Trips more often on the highest heat setting
• Trips when other appliances run on the same outlet or circuit
• Lights dim when the heater kicks on

Likely causes

• CommonHeater sharing a circuit with other high-draw appliancesSpace heaters can draw 1,500 watts or more, close to the limit of a standard 15-amp circuit on their own.
• CommonHeater plugged into an extension cord or power stripThin cords and strips aren't rated for a heater's full draw and can overheat or trip a connected surge protector.
• PossibleOlder or undersized home wiring/circuitSome rooms, especially in older homes, are wired for lighter loads than a space heater needs.
• Less commonFailing heating element drawing excess currentA degraded element can pull more current than it should, tripping the breaker even alone on a good circuit.

What to do

1. Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip.
2. Unplug everything else on that outlet and circuit and run the heater alone.
3. Try a lower heat setting to see if only the highest setting causes tripping.
4. Test the heater on a different circuit in another room to see if the problem follows the heater or the circuit.
5. Reset the breaker fully off then on and note whether it trips immediately or only once the heater fully powers up.
6. If it trips even alone on a different, confirmed-good circuit, the heater itself likely has an internal fault.

Tools and parts

• None

When to call a pro

Call a licensed electrician if a properly rated, unshared circuit still trips, and replace the heater if it trips even on a different known-good circuit.

Safety