Are Portable Heaters and Electric Blankets Safe? Winter Electrical Fire Safety in Essex (2026)

With energy bills still high, many Essex households are reaching for a plug-in heater or an electric blanket to warm one room instead of the whole house. Fire services and trading standards teams have spent October reminding people to check these devices first. Here is what they advise and when to get your electrics checked. This guide is accurate as of 18 October 2026. If you would rather talk it through, call CPW Electrical Solutions on 07545 571230.

Is it safe to use an old portable heater?

Only once you have checked it over. On BBC Morning Live on 7 October 2026, consumer journalist Harry Kind advised anyone digging an old heater out of the loft or cupboard to look for damaged or frayed cables, taped repairs, cracks in the plug, melted plastic, burn marks or other signs of overheating. It is also worth checking whether your heater has been recalled, using the product recall search on GOV.UK.

If you are buying new, Electrical Safety First recommends a reputable retailer rather than a third-party online seller, whose products may not have passed safety checks. It also advises against second-hand heaters and suggests registering yours with the manufacturer in case of a recall.

Can I plug a heater into an extension lead?

No. The BBC, Electrical Safety First and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service all say to plug a heater directly into a wall socket, because extension leads can easily be overloaded. Electrical Safety First also advises:

• keep the heater at least one metre away from curtains, furniture, bedding, paper and anything else that could catch fire

• stand it on a level surface where it cannot be knocked over

• never dry clothes on or close to it

• do not leave it running unattended or while you are asleep

Burn marks, buzzing or crackling, a hot plug or socket, or repeated tripping should never be ignored. Unplug the appliance and get it looked at.

How do I know if my electric blanket is safe?

Check it before you put it on the bed. Advice from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, and from Northumberland County Council's Trading Standards team and fire service on 14 October 2026, lists these warning signs:

• scorch marks or discoloured patches on the fabric

• wires visible or poking through the fabric, or bunched wires

• frayed or worn fabric

• a damaged cord, or a damaged or overheating connector

• a control that buzzes or gives off a smell when switched on

If you see any of these, stop using it. Essex Fire also advises never buying second-hand, never using it folded or with a hot water bottle, and unplugging it before bed unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use. Both fire services recommend replacing a blanket more than 10 years old.

Why does my smoke alarm keep beeping?

Usually the battery is low, but Electrical Safety First says it can also mean a sensor fault. Its Electrical Fire Safety Week 2026 campaign, "The Beep", urges people never to ignore a chirping alarm.

Essex Fire's advice is to have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home, test it monthly by pressing the button, and replace the whole alarm every ten years. It notes that best practice is linked, mains-powered alarms. The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, which is a handy reminder to test every alarm in the house.

What are landlords' smoke alarm rules?

In England, private and social landlords must make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every storey with a room used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any such room with a fixed combustion appliance such as a boiler or log burner (gas cookers excluded). Alarms must be checked on the day a new tenancy starts. Landlords also need a valid EICR; see our guide to EICRs for landlords.

When should I get my home's electrics checked?

Electrical Safety First recommends a periodic inspection at least every 10 years for an owner-occupied home, every 5 years for a business, and every 5 years or at each change of occupancy for a rented home. Get one sooner if you notice warm sockets, burning smells or repeated tripping.

It also points out that an RCD (residual current device) in your consumer unit protects you from electric shock if a product is faulty. An inspection will show whether you have it. Our electrical testing and compliance page explains what we check, and for shops, offices and units see our commercial electrician page.

For more efficient long-term heating, see heat pumps and air conditioning.

Who can help in Essex?

CPW Electrical Solutions Limited is based at Unit 18 Little Malgraves Industrial Estate, Lower Dunton Road, Upminster RM14 3TE. We are a NICEIC Approved Contractor (607863000), MCS certified (NIC602214), and hold £2m public liability and £300k professional indemnity insurance. Our phone is answered 7am to 7pm, and we offer 24-hour emergency electrical call-outs. See areas we cover.

FAQ

Is it safe to leave a heater on overnight?

Electrical Safety First does not recommend it. If you must, it suggests a lower-risk type such as an oil-filled radiator.

How often should I test my smoke alarm?

Once a month, according to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, with the whole alarm replaced every ten years.

What if a socket is scorched or a plug is hot?

Stop using it. If it is badly damaged, switch off at the consumer unit and call an electrician.

Get your electrics checked before winter

Call 07545 571230 or request a quote for an EICR or electrical safety check.

Information checked 18 October 2026 against BBC Morning Live (7 October 2026), Northumberland County Council (14 October 2026), Electrical Safety First, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and GOV.UK guidance. General guidance only. In an emergency or if there is a fire, get out and call 999.