G&J Blog

Powering Comfort: How to Set Up Your Galanter & Jones Heated Furniture

Written by Galanter & Jones | Jan 15, 2025 4:03:27 PM

Your Galanter & Jones piece is more than just furniture—it’s a reason to stay outside longer, relax more deeply, and enjoy warmth that feels like magic. While our heating technology is advanced, setting it up is simple. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get started—no guesswork, no stress.

What You’ll Need

Before you plug in, take a moment to confirm the basics:

  • A standard 120V outlet (outdoors must be GFCI)
  • A quick look at your home’s electrical panel
  • (Optional) A calculator or circuit tracer tool

If you’ve ever plugged in a lamp, you’re off to a great start.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Choose your outlet

For outdoor use, make sure your outlet is GFCI-protected. These outlets are designed to shut off power automatically in wet or unsafe conditions. Look for two small buttons labeled “Test” and “Reset.” Most outdoor outlets already meet this standard.

For indoor use, any regular outlet works just fine.

2. Know your wattage

Each Galanter & Jones piece uses between 750 and 1,500 watts to heat up. If you’re using more than one piece, just add up the total wattage.

Example:

3. Check your circuit’s capacity

Go to your breaker panel and find the amp rating for the circuit connected to your outlet. Here’s what those ratings mean:

For safety, aim to use no more than 80% of a circuit’s capacity.

4. Factor in other devices

Check what else is plugged into that circuit—lamps, appliances, or electronics—and subtract their wattage from your total available capacity.

5. Compare and confirm

If your furniture’s total wattage fits within your circuit’s capacity, you’re all set. If not, just plug additional pieces into a different outlet on another circuit.

How Much Electricity Does Heated Furniture Use?

Galanter & Jones pieces use between 750–1,500 watts to heat up. Once they reach temperature, they use only a small amount of power to maintain that warmth—far less than traditional outdoor heaters.

Fun fact: Our largest piece costs just 22¢ per hour to run—that’s up to 85% less than a standard patio heat lamp.

Electrical Requirements by Model

Note: These are startup wattages. Once warm, energy usage drops significantly.

Heated Furniture FAQs: You Asked, We Answered

Can I plug my furniture into any outlet?

Yes! All Galanter & Jones pieces are designed for standard 120V outlets. If outdoors, make sure the outlet is GFCI-protected.

You can visually identify a GFCI outlet by looking for two buttons on the face of the outlet, usually labeled "Test" and "Reset." These buttons are often different colors, like black and red or both white, and the outlet may have "GFCI" written on it.

According to modern electrical codes, all outdoor outlets are required to be GFCI-protected, so your home very likely is already equipped with the right outdoor outlet for using heated furniture outside. We recommend taking a quick peek to be sure!

What if I forget to turn it off?

Every piece of Galanter & Jones heated furniture has a built-in 8-hour automatic shutoff—so you never have to worry. When you’re ready to restart your furniture, simply twist the knob to the ‘off’ position and back on again to your desired temperature setting.

Does it use as much power as a hair dryer?

No. Hair dryers use up to 1,875 watts the entire time they’re on. Our furniture peaks at 1,500 watts, then tapers to a gentle, efficient trickle once it’s warm.

What if I trip a circuit?

If you exceed the available wattage, the breaker will trip—cutting power to that circuit. Just reset it by flipping the breaker switch off, then back on.

What’s the difference between a 120V and 220V outlet?

Most outlets in your home are 120V, and that’s perfect for our pieces. 220V outlets power large appliances like dryers or ovens. You don’t need one for Galanter & Jones furniture.

How do I find out which circuit my outlet is on?

If your panel isn’t labeled, try this:
1. Unplug the outlet.
2. Flip breakers one at a time.
3. Plug in a small device (like a phone charger) to test which breaker turns off that outlet.
4. Label the breaker for next time.
Bonus: A circuit tracer tool makes this even easier.

When to Call an Electrician

If you're unsure about your home's electrical capacity, want to add an outlet, or are powering multiple pieces and prefer a dedicated line—consult a licensed electrician.

Still Have Questions? We’re Here.

Need help figuring it all out? Just reach out to hello@galanterandjones.com. We’re happy to walk you through setup or answer any installation questions. Once everything’s in place, all that’s left to do is plug in, lean back, and enjoy the warmest seat in your house.