Heated blankets and space heaters: check the recall list before the first cold night

The first cold night of fall usually goes like this: you pull the heated throw off the closet shelf, drag the little tower heater out from under the bed, and plug both in before dinner. Before you do, take five minutes to look up both on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall list. Three recalls announced in 2026 cover more than 600,000 heated blankets and space heaters, and some of those heaters were sold as far back as 2013. If yours matches a recall, don't plug it in. Below is how to check, what to look for and how to use these units safely.

01Check the recall list before you plug in

Start with the model number. On a heated blanket it's usually printed on the controller or remote, or on a label on the packaging. On a space heater, look for the rating label, which is usually on the bottom or back. Write down the brand, the model number and roughly when you bought it.

Then go to cpsc.gov/Recalls. You can filter recalls by date, hazard and product category. The categories that matter here are:

• Electric Blankets or Sheets
• Electric Heaters
• Portable Electric Heaters

Use the category filter instead of scrolling the main list. As of mid-October 2026, none of the blanket or heater recalls below showed up on the first page of CPSC's recall results. Newer recalls for other products had pushed them further down. You can also search by brand name.

If you find a match, stop using the product. If you're not sure, call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 or email info@cpsc.gov.

While you're on the site, sign up for CPSC's email recall alerts (there's also an RSS feed). That way, a recall announced in the middle of winter will reach you without another search.

022026 recalls to look for right now

JKMAX heated blankets and heating pads (announced Sept. 17, 2026). About 195,000 units. The wire heating elements inside can overheat. JKMAX has received 577 reports of the blankets smoking, melting or burning, including 53 burn injuries.

• Models: JKMAX-002, JKMAX-7284B, JKMAX-6284B, JKMAX-10090B and JKMAX-8490B
• Colors: blue, gray, brown or red, with a detachable white remote
• Sold as one-packs or two-packs
• Sold on Amazon from September 2022 through July 2026
• Remedy: full refund

OCTROT heated Sherpa throws and blankets (announced July 30, 2026). About 178,000 units. The cord can detach and catch fire. There have been 555 reports of melting, sparking or smoking, 27 fires and 15 burn or shock injuries.

• Models: OCT-5060, OCT-5062, OCT-6248, OCT-7284 and OCT-8490
• Five color combinations, with a white controller that has five heat settings
• Sold on Amazon for $40 to $60 from August 2021 through December 2025
• Remedy: full refund

Vornado SRTH Small Room Tower Heaters (announced June 4, 2026). About 255,000 units in the U.S. A fan blade can come loose from the motor shaft, which can make the heater overheat and melt parts. Vornado has received 32 reports of overheating, including eight fires and one report of smoke inhalation.

• Black and white tower, about 12.5 inches tall
• "TYPE SRTH" on the silver label on the bottom
• Sold for $40 to $50 from August 2013 through May 2026 at Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ace Hardware, Vornado.com and Amazon
• Remedy: refund

Both blanket recalls involve products sold only on Amazon. The Vornado heater is the only one of the three that was also sold in stores. If you bought a heated throw online in the last few years, check your Amazon order history for the brand name.

03What the label and the unit tell you

The recall list is only one check. The product itself can tell you a lot too.

Find the model number. On JKMAX blankets it's on the back of the remote and on a white label on the packaging, next to the JKMAX brand name. On OCTROT throws, check the white controller and the packaging. On the Vornado heater, turn it over: "TYPE SRTH" is printed on the silver rating label on the bottom. If the label has worn off or the packaging is long gone, search the brand and product type in the CPSC database and compare the photos.

Look for a testing-lab mark. CPSC advises buying heaters that have been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. A cheap heater or blanket with no certification mark anywhere on it is a warning sign. Newer electric heaters also shut off on their own if they tip over. An older heater may not have that feature.

Look at the cord and the fabric. Run the cord through your hands, end to end. Fraying, cracked insulation, scorch marks or a plug that looks melted all mean the unit is done. On a blanket, look for dark, charred or stiff spots in the fabric, and check where the cord connects to the blanket. That joint is where the OCTROT hazard starts. After the unit has been on for a few minutes, feel the cord. PIRG's consumer safety guidance says that if a heater's cord gets hot, stop using it.

Don't assume an old heater is in the clear. The Vornado recall covers heaters sold over almost 13 years. A heater you bought in 2014 and have used every winter since can still be on the list.

04Use habits that cut fire risk

A unit that passes the recall check can still start a fire if it's used the wrong way. According to the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters caused about a third of home heating fires and about 88% of heating fire deaths in its 2016–2020 data. Its earlier analysis found that the leading factor in heating fire deaths was equipment placed too close to something that could burn.

For space heaters, CPSC's guidance comes down to a few rules:

• Keep it 3 feet from anything that burns. That includes bedding, curtains, furniture, laundry piles and the bag of Halloween costumes waiting by the door.
• Set it on a hard, flat, nonflammable surface. Don't put it on a rug or carpet, where it can tip over or trap heat.
• Plug it straight into a wall outlet. PIRG advises against using extension cords and power strips with space heaters.
• Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Don't leave a heater running in an empty house or next to a bed overnight.

For heated blankets:

• Don't fold, bunch or tuck it while it's on. Folds trap heat in one spot.
• Don't pile other blankets on top of it or let pets sleep on it while it's running.
• Replace it if it has scorched, frayed or worn spots. Don't try to repair a heated blanket.
• Read the manual about sleeping with it on. Safety advice varies by product, so follow the manufacturer's instructions for your model.

This is also a good week to test your smoke alarms. CPSC recommends a smoke alarm on every level of the home and a carbon monoxide detector outside sleeping areas. If you use a gas or kerosene heater, have it inspected every year.

05If you own a recalled unit, or have a fire or burn

Unplug a recalled unit and stop using it right away, even if it has always worked fine. All three recalls offer a full refund:

• JKMAX: email JkmaxRecall@outlook.com or go to jkmaxrecall.com.
• OCTROT: call 800-928-1807. You'll unplug the throw, cut the cord, take a photo of it and email the photo to OctrotRecall@outlook.com.
• Vornado: call 844-205-7978 or go to recalls.vornado.com. You'll send photos and proof that the heater has been destroyed.

If a company doesn't respond, use CPSC's Recall Complaint form or call the CPSC hotline. If a blanket or heater smoked, sparked or burned someone, report it at SaferProducts.gov. Reports there help CPSC spot problems before a recall.

Check the outlet the unit was plugged into, too. If the outlet is hot, scorched or discolored, or the circuit keeps tripping, stop using that outlet and call a licensed electrician to inspect the wiring before you plug anything else into it. Have that done before Thanksgiving, when ovens, lights and extra guests put more load on the house's circuits.

Sources (10)

• CPSC Recalls database
• CPSC: JKMAX Recalls Heated Blankets and Heating Pads Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
• CPSC: Heated Sherpa Throws and Blankets Recalled, Sold on Amazon by OCTROT
• CPSC: Vornado Air Recalls SRTH Small Room Tower Heaters Due to Fire Hazard
• Service Magazine: Vornado tower heater recall
• CPSC space heater safety guidance
• PIRG: Space heater safety tips
• NFPA: Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment
• OH&S: NFPA Releases Report on Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment
• MRCOOL: Are electric blankets a safety hazard?

Photo by suvajit on Pixabay.