As the frost lines your windows and the thermostat struggles to keep up with this weekend’s record lows, reaching for a space heater is a natural reflex. It’s the easiest way to turn a freezing home office or bedroom into a cozy sanctuary. However, if you’re planning on using an extension cord or surge protector to reach that perfect corner of the room, you’re creating a real fire hazard. Portable heaters are high-draw appliances, and forcing that much current through a standard cord is a recipe for disaster when the wind is howling outside.
Devices with a heating element can become a serious fire hazard when paired with an extension cord. High-power appliances like space heaters and air fryers are not meant to be paired with power strips or extension cords. As Paul Martinez, owner of Electrified NYC in Brooklyn, puts it, “No extension cords whatsoever” for any device that heats up or runs
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