When the mercury drops in Naperville, space heaters come out—and so do breaker trips. As electricians, we see the same pattern every winter: a chilly room leads to a portable heater on a crowded circuit, then flick… darkness. Before you plug another 1,500-watt box into a bedroom outlet, try these steps to keep warm and protect your electrical system.

1) Fix the root cause of cold rooms
Uneven heat usually points to airflow issues—clogged filters, blocked returns, or a short-cycling furnace. Portable heaters mask the symptom while stressing your circuits.

2) Know your circuit limits
Most bedroom circuits are 15 amps. With lamps, chargers, and TVs already running, a single space heater can push you over the edge and trip a breaker (by design).

3) Clear the registers & replace filters
Furniture and drapes often block supply registers. Free them up, vacuum returns, and drop in a fresh filter. You’ll be surprised how much warmer the room feels.

4) Avoid daisy chains