Are Space Heaters Safe?
The dos and don'ts of keeping a space toasty & warm!
Space heaters are a great option for that stubborn corner of your home that just won’t get warm, no matter what the thermostat says. They can also help your HVAC system by letting you warm up a room you’re using without cranking the heater for the whole house. But there are some downsides. Space heaters can also be a fire hazard if you’re not following a few basic rules. In fact, space heaters are responsible for about 1,700 fires and 80 deaths per year.
Before you turn on your space heater, it’s essential to know a few things about how it works and some general rules to follow for using one in your home.
USE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL HEAT ONLY
A space heater is meant to provide supplemental heat only. They should never be used to warm linens, cook food or dry clothing. While they may work to warm up smaller rooms in your home, they are not very energy-efficient appliances. (Don’t let their small size fool you, they can draw a large amount of electricity, especially when used daily.)
MAKE SURE YOUR SMOKE ALARMS WORK
This is essential whether you’re using a space heater or not, but given the risk of fire associated with portable, plug-in heaters, make sure your smoke alarms are in good working order. Remember, most smoke detectors only last about 10 years, so if yours are older than that, it’s time for new ones. Unless you have a hardwired smoke detector, change the batteries twice a year; most people make that a regular maintenance task when they set the clocks forward and backward when the time changes in the spring and fall.
DON’T LEAVE SPACE HEATERS UNATTENDED
Space heater safety 101: when leaving a room, turn the space heater off. You should also turn the heater off when sleeping and never let pets or children play too close to the heater. Have a little one at home? Make sure you’re always watching them while the space heater is on. You don’t want them burning themselves.
PLUG DIRECTLY INTO AN OUTLET
It’s tempting to use an extension cord to get the heater exactly where you want it, or jamming into a crowded power strip so you don’t have to unplug another device. Don’t. Space heaters draw considerable electric current, which can shock you and overheat extension cords and power strips.
KEEP SPACE HEATERS AWAY FROM FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
Make sure space heaters are kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn. That includes rugs, clothing, bedding, and paper. They’re best used on a flat, uncovered floor; that means no carpeting underneath it. Don’t run the cord under a rug either.
LOOK AT WATTS
Look at the wattage to determine how much heat a space heater will produce. Most electric space heaters range from 400 to 1,500 watts. Additionally, many models will allow you to adjust the output over a given range.
