A: Hi Pat, If you leave the iron: • in a horizontal position without moving it, or accidentally tip the iron over, it will automatically stop heating after 30 seconds. The Power Indicator will blink to let you know that the iron has stopped heating. • in a vertical position (on its heel rest) without moving it, the iron will automatically turn off after 15 minutes. The Power Indicator will blink to let you know that the iron has stopped heating. If you have further questions feel free to write us on https://sunbeamhome.com/en/contact-us.