Are space heaters safe to use in New Brunswick and what should I watch for?

Space Heater Safety for New Brunswick Homes

Portable space heaters are a fixture of NB winters — used to supplement baseboard heating, warm cold rooms, and heat garages and workshops. They're also responsible for a disproportionate share of residential electrical fires. Here's how to use them safely.

The Numbers

Portable space heaters cause an estimated 1,700 residential fires per year in Canada, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. The leading causes:

• Space heater placed too close to combustible materials (curtains, bedding, furniture): 45% of fires


• Space heater left unattended or used while sleeping: 25% of fires


• Electrical failure (overloaded circuit, damaged cord, faulty heater): 20% of fires


• Other (tipped over, children playing): 10% of fires

Safe Space Heater Use

1. Plug directly into a wall outlet — NEVER an extension cord

This is the single most important rule. A 1,500W space heater draws 12.5 amps — near the limit of most extension cords. An overloaded extension cord heats up silently and can ignite carpet, furniture, or the cord itself.

If the wall outlet is too far away, move the heater — don't add a cord.

2. Keep 1 metre (3 feet) of clearance on all sides

Nothing combustible within 1 metre of the heater: no curtains, bedding, towels, paper, clothing, or furniture. This applies to all sides, top, and front. Pay special attention to:

• Bedroom curtains (the most common ignition source)


• Bedding hanging off the side of a bed


• Clothing left draped over furniture near the heater


• Stacked cardboard or paper in basements and garages

3. Never leave a space heater unattended or use while sleeping

If you leave the room, turn off the heater. If you go to sleep, turn off the heater. Modern heaters with timers and thermostats are better than older models, but unattended operation is always a risk.

4. Use one heater per outlet, one heater per circuit

A standard 15-amp circuit can safely handle 1,440 watts continuously (80% rule). A single 1,500W space heater already exceeds this. Plugging two space heaters into the same circuit will trip the breaker — or worse, overheat the wiring if the breaker is oversized.

If you need to heat multiple rooms, each heater should be on a different circuit. Check your panel to confirm which outlets are on which circuits.

5. Place on a hard, flat surface

Never place a space heater on carpet, a rug, a bed, a couch, or a shelf. Soft surfaces can block the heater's air intake and cause overheating. Hard, level floors (hardwood, tile, concrete) are safest.

6. Check for CSA or ULC certification

Only use space heaters certified by CSA (Canadian Standards Association) or ULC (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada). The certification mark should be on the heater's label. Uncertified heaters from overseas may lack safety features like tip-over switches and overheat protection.

Types of Space Heaters

Ceramic fan heaters ($30–$80)

• Blow warm air across a ceramic heating element


• Heat a room quickly but lose heat quickly when turned off


• Can be noisy (fan)


• Good for: quick warmth in a bathroom or office

Oil-filled radiators ($50–$150)

• Sealed oil reservoir heated by an electric element


• No fan — silent operation


• Retain heat after being turned off (the oil stays warm)


• Good for: bedrooms, living rooms, overnight use (with a timer)


• Safer than fan heaters because the surface temperature is lower

Infrared/radiant heaters ($50–$200)

• Emit infrared radiation that heats objects and people directly


• Don't heat the air (room air stays cool, but you feel warm in front of the heater)


• Good for: garages, workshops, spot heating


• Caution: the front element gets very hot — keep extra distance from combustibles

Panel heaters ($100–$300)

• Flat, wall-mounted panels that radiate gentle heat


• Low surface temperature (can't cause burns)


• Good for: bathrooms, hallways, supplementing baseboard


• Least fire risk of all portable heater types

Electrical Warning Signs

Stop using a space heater immediately if:

• The outlet or plug feels warm or hot
• You see discolouration or melting on the plug or outlet
• The heater's cord is damaged, frayed, or repaired with tape
• The heater trips the breaker repeatedly
• You smell burning plastic
• The heater makes unusual sounds (arcing, buzzing, clicking)

Better Alternatives to Space Heaters

If you're relying on space heaters because your home doesn't stay warm enough:

Mini-split heat pump ($3,500–$6,000 installed):
Delivers 2.5–3.5 times more heat per watt than any space heater. A single mini-split in the main living area often eliminates the need for space heaters entirely. Operating cost is 60–70% less than baseboard for the same comfort.

Smart baseboard thermostats ($100–$250 per zone):
If your baseboards aren't keeping up because their thermostats are inaccurate (common with old bimetallic thermostats), smart thermostats (Mysa, Sinopé) provide precise temperature control and scheduling. The room may be cold simply because the thermostat is miscalibrated.

Insulation and air sealing ($1,500–$5,000):
If one room is always cold, the issue may be poor insulation or air leaks around windows and exterior walls. Fixing the building envelope is a permanent solution; a space heater is a temporary bandage.

Adding a baseboard heater ($300–$600 per heater installed):
If a room genuinely lacks heating capacity, adding a properly wired, thermostat-controlled baseboard heater is far safer than relying on a portable space heater indefinitely.

---

Find a Electrical Contractor

New Brunswick Electrical connects you with experienced contractors through the https://newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com:

• Blue Energy Ltd ✓
• BCB Electric ✓
• A&S Electric Ltd. ✓

View all electrical contractors →