Block Heater Accessories
The heater is half the setup. A timer decides what it costs to run, and the cord decides whether it's safe. Both are cheap, both are sold at every Canadian hardware store, and both are bought wrong constantly — indoor timers that die at -30, 16-gauge cords feeding 1,500-watt heaters.
Block Heater Timers
An engine only needs 2–4 hours of heating before you drive. A $15–$40 outdoor timer cuts an all-night plug-in bill by two-thirds — mechanical, digital and Wi-Fi options compared, with the cold-weather gotchas for each.
Extension Cords for Block Heaters
Why 14-gauge is the minimum, how long is too long, which jacket ratings stay flexible at -40 °C, and the safety habits that keep a 1,000 W heater from becoming a fire risk.
Looking for a replacement block heater cord?
Factory and aftermarket block heaters use detachable cordsets, and a cracked or rodent-chewed cord is the most common block heater failure. Every vehicle page on this site lists the matching Zerostart cordset (36-prefix) and Kat's cordset (28xxx) beside the heater part number — including lighted versions that glow when the outlet is live. Find your vehicle for the exact number, and see the cord replacement guide if yours is damaged.