The Hidden Impact of Space Heaters on Network Hardware

As the cold season settles in, it’s common to rely on space heaters to keep workspaces warm and comfortable. But while space heaters can bring warmth to offices, warehouses, or server rooms, they can also pose a silent — and sometimes overlooked — risk to your network hardware.

Using space heaters near network equipment is not just a safety concern, it’s a reliability concern. Electronics like routers, switches, and servers operate best when maintained at stable, moderate temperatures. Excessive heat — or rapid changes in temperature — can shorten the lifespan of devices, cause unexpected shutdowns, or even lead to permanent damage. 

Here’s how space heaters can negatively impact network equipment, as well as what you can do to avoid those risks.

Why Space Heaters Are a Risk for Network Hardware

1. Overheating and Thermal Stress Network gear — especially routers and switches — is designed to operate within certain ambient temperature ranges. According to industry guidance, excessive ambient heat — particularly when combined with reduced cooling (as sometimes happens in winter when HVAC is dialed down) — can cause equipment to overheat. 

Even if the devices don’t immediately fail, repeated exposure to high heat stresses internal components and may shorten their useful life.

2. Increased Risk of Malfunction or Sudden Shutdowns When device rooms or closets get too hot, firmware- or hardware-based thermal protections may trigger shutdowns to prevent damage — but that also means network outages. For a business, that’s downtime and unreliability.

3. Fire Hazard and Electrical Overload Space heaters draw a lot of power — and when paired with networking equipment and other electronics on the same circuit, they raise the risk of overloads, faulty wiring, or overheating outlets. 

Cheap, uncertified heaters or those plugged into power strips or extension cords dramatically increase this risk.

4. Environmental Instability — Humidity, Dust, and ESD Risks Winter heating often dries out air, but rapid temperature swings — e.g., switching a space heater on and off — can create localized humidity or condensation zones near equipment. According to hardware-room guidelines, inconsistent temperature and humidity can accelerate corrosion or permit static buildup that damages sensitive electronics. Dust stirred up or circulated by heater fans can also accumulate inside hardware, clogging fans or ventilation and accelerating wear.

Best Practices — How to Use Space Heaters Without Endangering Your Network Setup

If you or your team must use space heaters, you can take steps to reduce or eliminate risk. Here’s a recommended checklist:

• Keep space heaters away from network closets / server rooms. Ideally, never place a heater in the same room as critical network hardware.

• Choose only certified electric heaters. Look for units with recognized safety labels (e.g., UL, ETL, CSA) — avoid fuel-powered or non-certified units.

• Plug directly into a dedicated wall outlet. Never use extension cords or power strips — they may overheat under the heater’s load. 

• Maintain proper clearance. Heaters should be placed on a hard, flat surface with at least 3 feet of distance from any equipment, cables, paper, or flammable materials. 

• Turn off and unplug when not in use. Never leave a heater unattended — especially not overnight or when rooms are vacant. 

• Ensure proper ventilation and cooling for network gear. Even if the rest of the room feels warm, hardware rooms need stable ambient conditions to avoid overheating.

• Consider supplemental HVAC or space-heating alternatives. If an area requires heat, a centralized building heating system, baseboard heaters (installed professionally), or controlled HVAC heating is much safer than portable space heaters.

What This Means for Businesses, IT Teams, and Small Offices

For many small businesses or offices — especially older buildings without modern HVAC — it’s tempting to bring in a space heater when the weather drops. But if you have network equipment in the same area, this shortcut could cost you more than just heating bills.

Unplanned downtime, damaged routers, burnt-out switches, or even fire risk aren’t worth the temporary warmth.

If your space gets chilly in winter, it’s smarter to look at: proper building heating maintenance, adjusting thermostats for comfort while keeping hardware-safe zones cool, or relocating network gear to a dedicated server closet with environmental controls.

🔎 Conclusion

Space heaters certainly have their place — but they’re rarely safe companions for network hardware. The added heat, electrical load, and environmental instability can damage sensitive electronics, trigger unexpected shutdowns, shorten hardware lifespan, or even create fire hazards.

For any business relying on reliable connectivity, it’s worth planning your winter heating with care. Prioritize safety, maintain proper clearance, avoid power-strip plugs, and ideally, keep heaters and network gear in separate areas.

When in doubt, consider professional HVAC or facility-grade heating solutions that won’t jeopardize your infrastructure.

References 

Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. (2023). Portable space heaters: Fast facts. OCWR. Retrieved from https://www.ocwr.gov/publications/fast-facts/portable-space-heaters/ Oregon Commission on Water Resources

  Consumer Reports. (n.d.). How to use space heaters safely. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/space-heaters/space-heater-safety-tips/ Consumer Reports+1

 ACHR News. (2025). How to avoid IT equipment overheating in winter. Retrieved from https://www.achrnews.com/articles/109142-how-to-avoid-it-equipment-overheating-in-winter