As the winter chill sets in, you may find that your home has some cold spots that your heating system just doesn’t seem to get to. Using a space heater can be an easy way to add quick warmth to those locations. However, if you have an outdated panel box, you may be considering whether it’s actually safe to run a space heater. Below, we’ll dive into more details about how outdated electrical systems and space heater use relate.
A Look at Space Heater Operation
Whenever you turn on your space heater, it draws a significant amount of energy. A standard portable space heater can use anywhere between 1,200 and 1,500 watts of power. To put this in perspective, when you plug it into your standard 120-volt household outlet, it uses between 10 and 12.5 amps of current. This is a very heavy load for just a single electrical circuit in your home.
Many older homes have electrical systems that weren’t designed to handle our modern-day electronics. Items like space heaters, microwaves, computers, and other high-load appliances running at the same time can cause your electrical circuit to overload. Furthermore, when you’re running a high-demand space heater continuously for a long period of time, it places a large sustained amount of stress on your circuit breaker, outlet, wiring, and panel box alike.
What’s an Older Electrical Panel?
We typically classify an electrical panel as being older if it’s more than 30 years old. We also refer to it as outdated if it no longer meets modern-day safety code standards. If your home still uses a fuse box instead of circuit breakers, it’s considered outdated.
Panels with 60–100 amps are more common in older homes and may be undersized for today’s electrical demands, especially when high-draw appliances are used. Typically, homes built before the 1980s are more likely to have older electrical panel boxes if they have never been upgraded. Unfortunately, many of these electrical systems can’t safely support the electrical load required by space heaters.
What Makes Space Heaters So Risky With Outdated Panel Boxes?
There are several different attributes that can make space heaters more risky to use with outdated panel boxes. Because many older homes have fewer electrical circuits, multiple outlets are typically tied to a single breaker. When you plug in a space heater on that same electrical circuit that’s already powering your lights, television, and other appliances, the circuit can easily become overloaded.
This can cause a circuit breaker to repeatedly trip. In some cases, an overloaded circuit can lead to overheating of the wiring and increase your risk of experiencing an electrical fire.
Older panel boxes have aging wiring. All electrical wiring will degrade over time as its insulation becomes cracked, brittle, and damaged. When you’re using a high-load appliance like a space heater, it’s pulling a lot of power through those compromised sections of wiring. This can not only accelerate deterioration but also increase the risk of overheating and electrical arcing.
Furthermore, some older homes have aluminum wiring that is particularly vulnerable to space heaters. This is because aluminum expands and contracts more than modern-day copper wiring. This increases the risk of loose connections that can cause dangerous electrical arcing or overheating under heavy loads.
It’s important to realize that many outdated electrical panels were only designed to handle between 60 and 100 amps of power. If you’re trying to run all of your modern-day electronics on a day-to-day basis, it’s likely that you’re already stretching your electrical usage very thin.
By adding a high-demand space heater to your system, you could be pushing your electrical system beyond its safe operating capacity. While modern-day circuit breakers are designed to trip very quickly, outdated circuit breakers in older panel boxes don’t always trip as fast. This can lead to a dangerous amount of heat buildup and increase the risk of an electrical fire.
Another reason that space heaters are risky to run with outdated panel boxes is that not all circuit breakers are created equal. Some older breaker models have documented reliability issues and may not trip as quickly or consistently as modern breakers. When a circuit breaker doesn’t shut down power to an overloaded circuit, it can dramatically increase your risk of a fire.
Key Signs Your Electrical System Is Having an Issue
If you attempt to use a space heater with an older electrical panel, it’s important to understand the key red flags that indicate an issue. The most common sign is frequent circuit breaker trips whenever you turn your space heater on.
You may notice that the lights dim or flicker during heating cycles, and the outlet may feel hot to the touch. You may smell a burning odor coming from the outlet or the panel box itself. You may also hear buzzing or crackling from the outlet or breaker. In some cases, there may even be discoloration or scorch marks on the outlet itself. If you notice any of these red flags, it’s important to shut off your space heater and unplug it promptly.
Selecting Safer Space Heaters
It’s crucial to know that not all space heaters are created equal. While there’s no space heater that completely eliminates risk, there are options that are safer than others. Choosing a lower-wattage space heater or one that has adjustable wattage options is ideal. You can opt to use a lower setting that may only use 750 watts instead of the full 1,500 watts on high. This reduces the electrical load and stress on your electrical system.
For homeowners with older electrical panels who cannot upgrade right away, very low-wattage space heaters can sometimes be a safer short-term option. Some personal or desktop-style heaters operate in the 300-watt range, which places far less demand on a household circuit than a standard 1,500-watt unit. While these heaters are not designed to warm entire rooms, they can provide localized comfort at a desk or seating area without significantly increasing electrical load.
Even with lower-wattage heaters, caution is still necessary. They should be plugged directly into a wall outlet, kept clear of combustibles, and never used with extension cords.
Additionally, you want to look for space heaters that have built-in safety features to protect you and your family. A popular one is tip-over protection, which will shut the unit off if it senses it has been tipped over. Many modern-day space heaters also have overheat sensors that shut the unit off if it begins to overheat, helping to prevent an electrical fire. You may even want to opt for a space heater with a cool-touch exterior to minimize the risk of burns.
Upgrading Your Panel Box
If you have an outdated panel box, the best long-term solution for safely running space heaters is to upgrade your panel box. Getting a new panel box and potentially new wiring for your home allows it to better meet modern electrical demands.
You won’t have to worry about issues, like overloading electrical circuits, as our electrician can install a dedicated outlet for your space heater. Furthermore, you can rest assured that your new electrical panel box has modern circuit breakers that will trip immediately if there is an issue, ensuring your utmost safety.
Expert Electrical Panel Upgrade Service
John Henry's Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electrical offers expert electrical panel upgrade service for Lincoln, NE and the surrounding communities. Our knowledgeable electricians can also assist with all your electrical installation, repair, and inspection needs. Call our friendly staff today to book your next consultation with one of our helpful and fully licensed electricians.
