How to Use a Space Heater Responsibly
When the temperature cools down toward the
year’s end, that chill can make its way into your home. One popular way of
supplementing the heat in your house in the winter is with
portable electric space heaters. And while space heaters can be an effective
way of helping to heat a small space, they can also bring about their
own risks to the safety of you and your property.
In January 2021, the National Fire Prevention
Agency (NFPA) published a report on Home Heating Fires that found that
81 percent of home heating fire deaths involved stationary or portable space
heaters. If you are planning on using a space heater this winter, it’s important to be aware of the
various risks involved and the safety precautions you can take to try to
mitigate them. Continue reading to learn important safety tips when using a
portable space heater.
Find
the right location for your space heater, away from hazards
Perhaps the most important safety tip to
remember when using portable space heaters is to make sure it is not being used
in close proximity to anything that can burn. As space heaters warm up, they
can ignite nearby items, like blankets, curtains, drapes, and anything that is
not intended to withstand high temperatures.
According to the NFPA’s Home Heating Fires report,
“Over half (54 percent) of the home heating fire deaths were caused by having
heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.”
Indeed, space heaters reach temperatures that
can be hazardous to flammable material. Always be
mindful of your space heater’s location relative to things that can burn—the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends keeping your heater three feet away from anything flammable.
You should also make sure to position your
space heater on flat ground and out of the way of any foot traffic. It’s
important that your heater remains stable on the ground to reduce the risk of accidents and damages.
Never leave a space heater running overnight or unattended
When you leave a room or go to bed for the
night, always turn off and unplug
your space heater to prevent it from continuing to run and overheating. Some
space heaters are manufactured with a protection mechanism to prevent
overheating or an auto-off mode in the event it falls over. But remember that
these are supplemental resources intended as a last line of defense. You still
need to do your due diligence and ensure it does not run for too long.
Safety
Pro-Tip: When powering your space heater, be sure to
plug it directly into the wall. Never use an extension cord or power strip—a
space heater can draw a significant amount of energy, and extension cords and
power strips are not built to handle the transfer.
Know your space heater
Get familiar with your model of space heater
and its method for producing heat. A few kinds of portable electric space heaters
include fan-forced heaters, oil/water-filled radiators, ceramic heaters, and
infrared heaters. Read the manual to learn the ins and outs of your space
heater and regularly inspect it for damage.
To do this, inspect your space heater while it
is unplugged and off, looking for
any deformations, discolorations, and making sure the cord and wiring is intact
and unharmed. If a space heater appears damaged, it may be at risk of
malfunctioning and producing a fire.
Using a space heater can be an easy way to make yourself a little more comfortable in the cold months, but they must be used responsibly to avoid the disastrous outcome of a house fire. Click below to read our guide to fire extinguisher safety so that you are prepared to act if a small fire starts in your home!
