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Every winter I get this question from friends who already use smart plugs for lamps and Christmas lights: “Can I just put the heater on one so the room is warm when I get up?” Heating bills are up this year, so it’s a fair question. Here is what the labels say, a quick way to check your own heater and plug, and the setups I’d use instead. I haven’t owned every heater below; picks come from specs and owner-review summaries.
Heater and plug load checker
Check your heater and plug
Why it’s a bad idea
- The load: 1,500 W ÷ 120 V = 12.5 amps, about 83% of a 15-amp plug, for hours at a time. Small plugs heat up at that load.
- The heater’s own warning: many heater manuals tell you not to use the heater with a timer, programmer or separate remote switch, because it could start while something is covering it.
- Nobody is there: the whole point of a smart plug is turning things on when you’re away, which is exactly when a heater shouldn’t run.
What to use instead
| Goal | Better setup |
|---|---|
| Warm room when you wake up | Central heat on a smart thermostat schedule |
| Heater shuts off by itself | A heater with a built-in auto-off timer and thermostat |
| Control from your phone or Alexa | A heater with its maker’s own app, used while you’re home |
| Christmas lights, lamps, fans | Smart plugs are perfect for these |
DREO ceramic space heater
A best-selling 1,500-watt heater with a thermostat, timer, remote, tip-over and overheat protection: everything you wanted the smart plug for, built in.
Pros: heats quickly, quiet, remote control; owners call it well worth the money
Cons: some units stopped working after several months
DREO smart electric wall heater
Wall-mounted, so it can’t tip and stays off the floor, with its own app, voice control and thermostat. Good for small rooms and bathrooms made for it.
Pros: quiet, compact, owners like turning it on from their phones; handles about 150 sq ft
Cons: built-in thermostat accuracy and the included wall anchors get mixed reviews
SereneLife smart space heater
A 1,500-watt ceramic heater with a thermostat, remote and Wi-Fi app at a lower price.
Pros: heats fast, compact, good value
Cons: app and remote don’t always work together; app needs work
Where smart plugs shine is everything else: lamps, fans, Christmas lights. For outdoor lights the Kasa EP40 outdoor plug is a favorite; see outdoor smart plug or timer for Christmas lights.
Space heater safety in one list
- Wall outlet only, no power strips or light extension cords.
- Three feet clear of beds, curtains, sofas and the tree.
- Tip-over and overheat shutoff, and a lab certification mark (UL, ETL).
- Off when you leave or sleep.
- Working smoke alarms on every floor: see the best smoke and CO detectors.
Wondering what the heater adds to your bill? Our sister site’s space heater cost calculator does the math.
FAQ
Is it safe to plug a space heater into a smart plug?
Most experts and heater makers say no. A 1,500-watt heater draws about 12.5 amps for hours, close to the limit of a 15-amp plug, and many heater manuals warn not to use the heater with a timer or any device that turns it on automatically, because it could start while covered or tipped. Plug heaters directly into a wall outlet.
Why do heater manuals say not to use a timer?
Because a heater that switches on when nobody is home can start a fire if something has fallen on it or been placed too close. Many manuals carry a warning against using the heater with a programmer, timer or remote switching device for that reason.
What if my smart plug is rated for 15 amps?
A 15-amp rating means the plug can carry that load, not that it should do so for hours. Electrical practice is to keep continuous loads at or below 80% of a rating, about 12 amps on a 15-amp plug, and a 1,500-watt heater is above that. Cheap plugs also run hot at high loads.
How can I warm a room before I get home safely?
Use a heater with a built-in thermostat and timer that is designed to be controlled that way, or a smart heater with an app made by the heater’s maker. Or warm the room with your central heat on a smart thermostat schedule, which is what it’s built for.
Can I use a smart plug with an oil-filled radiator?
The same rule applies: it’s still a 1,500-watt heater, and makers generally say to plug it straight into a wall outlet. Use its own timer if it has one.
Sources
- U.S. CPSC: Portable heater safety
- NFPA: Heating safety tips
- ESFi: Space heater safety
- TP-Link Kasa: Smart plug load ratings
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