February in Fort Wayne: normal high 37°F, low 21°F
Space heaters in a cold house
Space heater safety starts with three CPSC rules: keep it 3 feet from anything that can burn, plug it straight into a wall outlet, and turn it off when you sleep or leave.
A photo essay from the people at Warm in January, Cool in July. Updated .
How far should a space heater sit from things?
At least 3 feet, on all sides. The January 2026 CPSC release says: "Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding and other combustible materials." CPSC's safety habits sheet adds beds, clothes, curtains, papers and sofas to the list. In a small Fort Wayne bedroom, that can rule out most of the floor. If you can't find 3 feet in the room, choose a different room.
Can you plug one into an extension cord?
No. CPSC says to plug electric space heaters directly into a wall outlet, "never into an extension cord or power strip." Its sheet also says never to run the cord under a rug. In the CPSC video below, the agency adds one more habit: check for hot plugs. If the plug or outlet is hot to the touch, turn the heater off, unplug it and stop using that outlet until an electrician has looked at it.
Where should the heater sit?
On a stable, level surface. CPSC's sheet says to place it "where it will not be knocked over." That rules out walkways and anywhere a child or pet could tip it. A table stacked with paper fails on two counts. The heater can be bumped, and its fuel is right beside it. Check the spot again each time you move the heater, because the 3-foot rule moves with it.
Can you leave a space heater on overnight?
No. CPSC's sheet says: "Never leave the heater operating while unattended or while you are sleeping." The January 2026 release says the same about sleep: "Turn off heaters when sleeping." Turn it off when you leave the room too. Warm the bedroom before you go to bed, then switch the heater off and rely on blankets. The agency also tells people to keep working smoke alarms in the house. If a cold room can't be made comfortable that way, that points to a heating problem to fix.
Is a space heater a fix for a furnace that has quit?
It is a stopgap for one room, used by the same rules. If the furnace has stopped, go through the five safe checks and call for service. A heater also won't solve a room that is always cold: drafts and cold floors are a separate job. This essay covers plug-in electric heaters only. Its rules don't describe how to use kerosene or propane units. The 3-foot rule in the CPSC release applies to all portable heaters.
| What | The figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Clearance on all sides | at least 3 feet | CPSC, January 2026 |
| Portable heater fires, average a year, 2020-2022 | 1,600 | CPSC, January 2026 |
| Deaths a year, same period | 70 | CPSC, January 2026 |
| Injuries a year, same period | 150 | CPSC, January 2026 |
| Normal February low, Fort Wayne | 21.0°F | NOAA normals, 1991-2020 |
| February heating degree days | 1,014.9 | NOAA normals, 1991-2020 |
What to do
Right now
- Clear 3 feet on all sides of the heater
- Plug it straight into a wall outlet, with the cord out from under rugs
- Set it on a stable, level surface
- Turn it off when you sleep or leave
Before next winter
- Test your smoke alarms
- Check the plug for heat the first time you run the heater each season
- Fix the cold room's cause instead of relying on a heater
Call a pro when
- The furnace is out and a heater is all you have: a heating contractor
- A plug or outlet gets hot: an electrician
- You rely on a heater every night because one room won't warm up
What neighbors ask
Is a heavy-duty extension cord all right for a space heater?
CPSC makes no exception. Its wording is "never into an extension cord or power strip," so move the heater to a wall outlet.
Is it safe to run a space heater in a bedroom while I sleep?
CPSC says no. Warm the room first, then turn the heater off before you go to sleep.
Can a heater sit on a table or a desk?
CPSC asks for a stable, level surface where it can't be knocked over, with 3 feet clear of papers and other things that burn. A cluttered table or desk doesn't meet that.
Do I have to turn it off if I step out of the room?
CPSC's sheet says never to leave one running unattended, so turn it off when you leave the room.
How do I know the fire numbers are current?
The 1,600 fires a year come from CPSC's January 2026 release and cover 2020 to 2022. The video in this essay dates from 2018 and gives a lower, older number, so use the release.
Where this came from
The guidance here is CPSC's only: its January 2026 release, its heater safety habits sheet and its 2018 video. NOAA normals supply the Fort Wayne figures. All checked November 3, 2026.