Space Heater Plug Getting Hot? Explained With Advice

Does your space heater plug get hot when you use it? Then coming up in this article, you’ll find 5 reasons why this happens and what you can do to stop it.

Here’s why your space heater plug is getting hot and what you can do:

Fixing an overheating space heater plug might not be as complicated as you imagine. Find out what you need to do and how in the upcoming section.

5 Things to Do When Your Space Heater Plug Gets Hot

It is normal to feel a little warmth when you touch your space heater’s plug. But how warm is too warm? You should be able to touch it without feeling uncomfortable. If the plug is too hot for you to keep your fingers on it for more than a couple of seconds, something is not right.

Coming up, we’ll take a look at why your space heater’s plug is overheating. Not only that, but we’ll also see what you can do to fix the problem. Check it out.

Solution #1 Plug the Cord Into a Wall Socket

Is your space heater plugged into an extension cord? Then please, unplug it from the extension cord immediately. These devices are not designed to handle the energy load of a space heater. Using them in this way makes them prone to overheating causing a fire hazard. Once you have disconnected it, this problem should disappear.

Ok, but what if your space heater’s plug is too hot to disconnect from the extension cord? Here’s what you can do.

1. Go to the fuse box in your home
2. Locate the circuit breaker that turns off the power to the extension cord’s plug socket and shut it off
3. Wait for the plug to cool down
4. When cool, disconnect the space heater from the extension cord
5. Plug the space heater directly into a wall socket

Solution #2 Use a Different Plug Socket

If your space heater’s plug is too hot for you to touch then this could be the fault of a loose connection.

How can you tell if there is a loose connection? By taking a look at the plug in the electrical outlet. If the outlet is worn out and the plug does not fit snuggly in it, you can conclude that there is a loose connection.

Loose connections are dangerous. This is because they increase resistance and force the space heater to draw more electrical current. This will increase the amount of electricity being wasted as heat and as a result, the plug becomes too hot to touch. 

Loose connections are common in older houses as the electrics have been in use for a long time. If you are living in an older home, you should have an electrician inspect your connections. This way you can be sure that everything is safe.

So, how can you solve this problem?  Here are a couple of things that you can do:

1. Go to the fuse box in your home
2. Locate the circuit breaker that turns off the power to the space heater and shut it off
3. Wait for the plug to cool down
4. When cool, disconnect the space heater
5. Plug the space heater into a different wall socket in the home and turn it on. If the space heater’s plug does not heat up, discontinue the use of the other wall socket. You will need to call an electrician to fix the problem with the loose connection.

Solution #3 Replace the Cable

Space heaters overheat when there is a poor connection between the wires and the plug blades. Have you tried plugging your space heater into a different wall socket but the plug still heats up? Then the cable could be to blame. Poor connection issues are common with old space heaters.

How can you fix this issue? The only way around it is to remove the cable and replace it with a new one. This might seem like too much effort if the space heater is getting on in years. I would recommend a new space heater in this case to save you time and energy.

Solution #4 Fix the Electrics

In the previous step, we saw how replacing the space heater’s cable could fix a poor connection problem. But what if the root of the issue is not the cable but rather a short circuit in the heater?

If the space heater has a short circuit, it will increase the amount of electricity it draws. This will make the space heater’s plug heat up too much.

Ok, so what can we do about fixing this? You could call an electrician and have the electrics inside the space heater rewired. But this might be costly and far more hassle than it’s worth.

A short circuit in your space heater is a telltale sign that it is getting on in years. My recommendation would be for you to purchase a new space heater. This will save you from patching up a device that could develop other problems later down the line.

Solution #5 Clean the Prongs

Your space heater’s plug may also get hot if its prongs are dirty or corroded. The dirt on the prongs makes the connection poor and increases the resistance. Increased resistance forces the space heater to draw more electrical current. This will increase the amount of electricity being wasted as heat and as a result, the plug becomes too hot to touch.

Dirty or corroded prongs is a common problem with old electrical items. But thankfully, cleaning them is super simple. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Go to the fuse box in your home
2. Locate the circuit breaker that turns off the power to the space heater and shut it off
3. Wait for the plug to cool down
4. When cool, disconnect the space heater
5. Rub the deposits off of the prongs using sandpaper, an emery board, or a knife
6. Plug the space heater back in and turn it on

How to Get the Most Out of Your Space Heater

Space heaters are a drain on your electricity. So, is there anything you can do to use a space heater without sending your utility bills through the roof? Take a look at some of the tips below that will help.

1. Look for a heater that uses low wattage. The lower the wattage, the less energy it uses, and the happier your wallet.
2. Choose a heater that is the right size for the room. If the space heater is too big, it will heat the room really quickly and use more electricity than you bargain to do so.
3. Use your HVAC system instead of multiple space heaters around the home. This is a more economical option that will also distribute the warmth better.

Conclusion

We all expect our space heater’s plug to get a little warm while we use it. But what should you do if your space heater’s plug is getting hot? This article has covered 5 reasons why this happens and what you can do to prevent it. I’m sure this has assisted you with fixing your space heater or it has helped you to decide when it would be best to get a new one.

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Have a great day!

-Craig