Space heater trips the breaker

Symptoms

• Breaker trips shortly after turning the heater on
• May trip only when other appliances share the same circuit
• Other outlets on the same circuit also lose power

Likely causes

• CommonCircuit overloaded by heater plus other devicesSpace heaters often draw 1,500 watts, close to a standard circuit's full capacity by themselves.
• CommonHeater plugged into an extension cord or power stripThese aren't rated for a heater's high current draw and can trip breakers or overheat.
• PossibleHeater on the highest setting on an older or shared circuitOlder wiring may not handle the full-power setting well, especially with other loads.
• Less commonInternal short in the heaterIf it trips even alone on a known-good circuit, the heater itself may be faulty.

What to do

1. Unplug other devices from the same outlet or circuit and try the heater alone.
2. Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip.
3. Try a lower heat setting to see if the breaker holds.
4. Test the heater on a different circuit, ideally one with nothing else running.
5. If it still trips the breaker while alone, on a good outlet, and on a low setting, stop using it and consider it faulty.
6. Don't keep resetting the breaker repeatedly if the trip is instant and consistent.

When to call a pro

Call an electrician if a properly loaded, direct-plugged circuit still trips, since the wiring itself may need inspection.

Safety