Space Heater Keeps Shutting Off - Reasons And Remedies

A space heater can make your life much easier. Space heaters are a great choice to warm the room or get cozy on cold winter nights. When your space heater keeps shutting off, there's always a reason behind it.

Before fixing it, you should have a general idea of why. Solving this problem isn't as difficult as it sounds. This article will help you with that. So, let's not waste time and get right to it.

How Does A Space Heater Work?

A typical space heater works with electricity. It flows through the heating element, which makes it hot enough to warm up rel="nofollow noopener"the entire room. Some space heaters have internal fans that transfer the heat into the air.

This fantastic equipment seems to be great until the malfunctioning starts. Don't worry, to restore your space heater to its former glory is possible now.

What Are Space Heaters, And Why Do They Keep Shutting Off?

Space heaters are heating appliances that warm up the room quickly and instantly. The main reason space heaters get shut off is that they get overheated, the power fluctuates, and the heater is not getting the required power. It can be a challenge to find out the exact problem.

There can be many reasons for that, but

Some Common Factors

Too Many Devices Connected On The Circuit

It is not always an internal problem. There can be an external cause which is shutting off the space heater. You can face this problem if your home circuit is overloaded with many electric devices.

Home power circuits can provide a limited supply of power. If you exceed it, they would be under the provision of voltage, and the appliance will not work. Remember that the plugged-in electric devices should not surpass the home circuit limit. Small homes range is 100 amp, and bigger homes have a range of 250 amp.

Solution (Stepwise)

Unplug a few large electricity-consuming appliances, e.g., fridge, freezer, personal computers, etc
Plug in the space heater again and turn it on

Your Power Cord Is Damaged

Your power cords can get damaged easily if you store them improperly, keep them tangled, or press them. Suppose your power cord is broken or looks suspicious. Just don't use it. That's the reason behind your space heaters shutting off.

Solution

If you have a spare cord, attach it and use it.
If you don't have a spare one at home, buy it (having the same amperage and voltage requirements) from a local store. It's easily available and is not so expensive.

Loose Wall Outlet

Loose contact with the wall outlet can cause the heater to shut down. This is a very common problem and can easily be fixed and tested.

Solution

Plug in your space heater in another wall outlet
Check if it shuts down or not.
If it doesn't, then the problem is surely in your wall outlet
A loose wall outlet can be easily fixed and won't cost much.

Your Air Filter Is Dirty

Air filters protect the heater's internal components from airborne pollutants. They work as a shield. If you want free flow and heat distribution, keep it clean. A dirty air filter can cause extensive overheating or underheating. If your space heater keeps shutting off, check its air filters to know whether they need cleaning or not.

Solution

Unplug your space heater
Cool it down
Remove and wash the filters with dish soap
When the filters are dried well, put them back in the heater.

The Heating Element Is Faulty

In simple words, heating elements convert electricity into heat. A faulty heating element can cause your heater to shut off. It is very dangerous to use a space heater with faulty heating elements.

Solution

Unplug the heater
Cool it down
Look for the heating element
Remove and replace it

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The Circuit Board Is Damaged

It is the main component of a space heater. A circuit board operates the heater properly. If it's bad, your heater might not even turn on again.

Solution

Try to find the best solution in the documents
If nothing works, you might have to replace it

Inadequate Power Supply

A faulty power supply can lead you to this problem. This isn't a big issue. Sometimes the voltage and wattage of space heaters don't go well with the sockets. It would help if you were careful about that.

Solution

Look for any brown stains around the socket.
If you find any, immediately contact an electrician.

Is the thermal fuse blown Or Melted

Thermal fuses are placed to protect the space heater from overheating. They blow out first to prevent the other important parts of the heater from blowing. A typical thermal fuse ranges between 120V - 250V and 10 - 15 amp.

Solution

Disassemble the heater with pliers and screwdrivers
Locate the thermal fuse
Check if it's blown or melted
Remove and replace it with a new one of the same kind.

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The Circuit Breaker Is Tripped

Some houses have circuit breakers instead of fuses. There's a primary circuit breaker, which is known as the central point for your power. If there's overconsumption or overload, it immediately trips to save other electric appliances in the house.

Solution

You should never do it by yourself.
If the breaker is burnt or tripped, call an experienced electrician it get it checked and fixed.

Thermocouple

If you don't find any problems with your circuit breaker or fuse, you might want to check the thermocouple. It is placed inside the space heater. If it detects any unnecessary electricity, it immediately turns off the device.

Solution

Unplug the heater and let it cool down for a few minutes
Plug it again and test it

The Thermostat Isn't Working Properly

It is placed inside the space heater. It works as a temperature regulator, and you can adjust the settings according to your requirements. If the space heater exceeds the limit, it'll automatically turn off.

Solution

Unplug the space heater and wait to cool it down
Disassemble your heater
Re-adjust the thermostat
If it's destroyed, replace it with a new one

Auto-Safety Feature

In this modern era, everything comes with a safety feature. So as the space heaters. If the sensors detect any irregular activity, the device gets turned off.

Solution

Sometimes, the sensors malfunction.
Contact the heater company's service member and ask them to replace or repair the sensors.

Placed On An Uneven/Soft Surface

The tip-over feature in the new space heaters automatically turns off the appliance when it tips over to some certain angle or point.

Solution

Place the heater on an even surface.
If you want to put it on a rug or carpet (not recommended), you can put something solid and supportive below the heater.

Overheating

If the space heater has been running for quite a long time and the internal components can't take/generate the heat anymore. It will be turned off due to overheating. It usually happens when there's no ventilation. Overheating can also occur if the filters are dirty.

Solution

Let it cool down for some time, then place it in a well-ventilated area.
If the problem isn't solved, consider cleaning the air filters

Also See: Portable AC Keeps Shutting Off – How To Fix It For Use?

Conclusion

Space heaters can get shut off due to several reasons. There's no need to worry. If you're facing this problem, you can detect the root cause and find the best solution for it by reading the information in this article.

You can always get help from an experienced person if you don't want to do it alone. We hope we have helped you in solving this problem. Don't forget to share your experience with us.