Denver Space Heaters
Denver space heaters are great appliances if you want a little extra warmth during the cold winter months. However, unlike other types of heaters, electric space heaters put a severe strain on whatever circuit you plug them into. Fortunately, here at Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric, we know all about space heater power usage, the dangers they present, and how to help you stay safe and warm when using them. So, for help with your space heater, you’ve come to the right place. Contact our expert electricians to schedule an inspection or service call for your Denver space heaters circuit today!
What Are The Dangers Of Electric Space Heaters?
When appropriately used, Denver space heaters are relatively safe to use. However, as we stated earlier, there are a few known dangers of electric space heaters. Some of those dangers include:
- Fires
- Overloaded circuits
- Burns
- Excessive power bills
Safe Usage Of Your Denver Electric Space Heater
While the risks listed above sound scary, don’t fret. The list of electric space heater dangers is about the same as the one you’d find for almost any kind of heating system.
Moreover, there are several things you can do to help prevent problems with your space heaters in Denver. Let’s talk about those a little bit:
Don’t Overload The Circuit
One of the most important things you can do to prevent space heater problems is to make sure that you don’t overload the circuit you plug it into. We know, that sounds rather complicated. Fortunately, our professional electricians can help with your circuit woes.
An example is probably the easiest way to explain how to prevent overloading your circuits with a space heater. Let’s say you want to use a Denver electric space heater in your bedroom. A standard bedroom circuit in the United States is rated for 15 amps. Typically, space heaters in Denver draw an average of 12.5 amps during regular use. So, that means, if you plug your space heater into an outlet in your bedroom, you’ll draw nearly all the power your circuit breaker or fuse can handle, and that’s dangerously close to overload. In fact, it’s so close to an overload, that doing something as simple as turning on your bedroom TV while running the heater can trip the breaker, potentially causing a fire.
Plug Your Space Heater Directly Into The Wall
Always plug your Denver space heaters directly into a 120-volt wall outlet. Never, under any circumstances, plug a space heater into a power strip, surge protector, extension cord, or another electrical device. Why, you ask? Well, since space heater power usage puts a massive strain on the circuit, running one off of any of those previously mentioned devices can cause a fire. Surge protectors, extension cords, and power strips simply aren’t designed to handle the amount of power your space heater wants to eat up. So, avoid a fire by refusing to plug your space heater into anything other than the wall outlet in the room you plan to use it.
Never Leave Your Denver Electric Space Heater Unattended
You should never, ever leave your Denver electric space heater unattended. Just don’t do it. If you plan on leaving the room where you’re running the space heater, turn it off. The small amount of extra warmth isn’t worth inadvertently burning your house down!
Denver Space Heater Power Usage
As we mentioned earlier, space heaters use a lot of power. On average, they put a 12.5 amp strain on whatever circuit they’re plugged into, and 1500 watts of power when set to “high” (Energy Use Calculator).
Okay, so clearly, space heater power usage is a concern. However, there are a few things you can do to help mitigate their never-ending hunger for electricity. To help reduce your space heater power usage, you can:
- Set It To “Low” – Simply setting your space heater to the lowest power setting can reduce your space heater power usage by as much as 60%! That’s a considerable savings in energy. Set your space heater to “low” once you’ve warmed up a bit, and watch the savings accumulate!
- Only Run It When You Need It – Space heaters in Denver aren’t designed to run all day or night. Instead, they’re made to help warm up a small space quickly. So, to prevent excessive space heater power usage, avoid using your space heater unless necessary.
- Have Us Install A New Circuit – Okay, so installing a new circuit won’t actually reduce how much power your space heater uses. But, if you continuously use space heaters, and you’re concerned about the amp draw your space heater puts on whatever circuit you plug it into, you can always contact us. We can come out and install a new circuit for running space heaters. Why would you want a whole new circuit? Well, a new circuit eliminates the strain space heaters put on existing circuits.
Why Get An Electrical Inspection Before Using A Denver Space Heater?
Before you use a space heater in your home or business, give us a call and schedule an inspection. Why, you ask? Well, remember how space heater uses an inordinate amount of power and put a significant strain on whatever circuit you plug them into? That power usage and stress is exactly why you should have a professional electrician inspect your circuit before you plug one in. You don’t want to plug a space heater into an already heavily-taxed circuit. So, no matter how cold it gets, contact us, and schedule an inspection before you plug that heater in.
Need Help With Your Space Heaters In Denver? Contact Us!
Here at Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric, we pride ourselves on being the go-to company for all your electrical needs. From help with your space heaters in Denver to installing a new circuit and everything in-between, we have you covered. We’ve even received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau! So, if you’re concerned about the load your Denver space heaters put on your electrical system, don’t fret. We can come out and make sure that it’s safe to use your heater. Contact us today!
