The Dangerous Mistake Many Minnesotans are Making with Space Heaters

It's getting cold and chilly out. I might even go as far as saying it's bitterly cold right now. The furnaces are getting their work in and we're all getting cozy in our warmest clothes and hot coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Or maybe a hot toddy.

It's officially a Minnesota winter, where it gets so cold your face hurts as soon as you step outside. We've all adapted to it one way or another, though. There are all sorts of ways to stay warm during a Minnesota winter!

ALSO READ: MN Holiday Light Display Named Best in the US... Again!

Ways to Warm Up During a Long, Cold Minnesota Winter

You can warm up by wearing anything warm and toasty. That could be fuzzy socks, your thickest sweater, and some fleece-lined pants. I got some fleece-lined joggers recently and I think that's what I'll be living in for the next few months.

If you have a fireplace, that's another great way to stay warm!

A hot drink is a really nice way to warm up too. Like I was saying earlier, they're are so many hot drink options to choose from.

If you want a little me-time, a nice, hot bath is a great way to warm up in the winter.

Get our free mobile app

Or cozy up under some blankets, alone or with your family, and read a book or watch a movie!

Ok, so there are lots of ways to stay warm this winter, but one of the most popular ways that we haven't talked about yet is staying warm with a space heater.

These things are a lifesaver! My office is so cold so having our space heater on in the winter is amazing. I also have an electric fireplace at home so technically it's a space heater too, and it's so nice to turn on while watching Netflix.

But there's something really dangerous that lots of Minnesotans are doing right now with those space heaters!

Something Really Dangerous You're Doing With Your Space Heater Right Now

This came up during a work meeting today.

I came into my office after the weekend and saw the space heater in the office was plugged into my power strip (I share my office with two other people). I mentioned at our meeting that I couldn't believe someone plugged the space heater into the power strip.

Some of them were confused. I had no idea this wasn't common knowledge! So I wanted to pass on this important information to you, too.

You should never, ever plug a space heater into anything but a wall socket.

The reason is that space heaters use a lot of electricity, which could cause the power strip, surge protector, or extension cord you're using to overheat and cause a fire.

One picture that I've seen circle social media before in years past is this:

That's so scary!

I also read from a site called Family Handyman that the outlet you're using for the space heater shouldn't be used for anything else because of the power that's being pulled by the space heater.

If you want to be extra safe, plug your space heater into a wall outlet that's not being used by anything else. However, there are options for extension cords and power strips out there that can handle the higher electricity usage. Just make sure you really do your research beforehand, though.