Home safety · Jan 12, 2026 · By the Trendy Swift crew
A compact heater is handy on those surprise cold mornings, in an over-air-conditioned office or in a chilly guest room. Space heaters are also a leading cause of home heating fires, so a few habits go a long way.
Before you plug it in
- Look for a safety certification such as UL, ETL or CSA on the label.
- Choose tip-over and overheat shut-off. Most modern ceramic heaters include both.
- Read the manual. Every model has its own clearances and cleaning steps.
9 habits for a cozy, safe room
- Keep a three-foot clear zone around the heater: no curtains, bedding, paper or laundry.
- Plug it straight into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord or power strip.
- Set it on a hard, flat, level floor, not on a rug, bed or table.
- Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Keep kids and pets out of reach of the front grille.
- Don't run it in bathrooms or near water unless it's rated for that.
- Check the cord and plug for heat or damage every few uses.
- Dust the vents regularly so it doesn't overheat.
- Test your smoke and CO alarms monthly.
Good backup: a fire blanket near the kitchen and working smoke alarms on every level. Find both in our Safe at Home collection.
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Our Portable Electric Heater is sized for desks and nightstands, with a digital display and remote.