Sometimes there may be a room in your house that may not heat up as warm as you would like it. Installing a portable space heater can be a great way to help make that room warm up without having to increase the temperature for the entire house. If you’re thinking of putting a space heater in one of your rooms, you should follow these safety tips below to ensure that you don’t experience a house fire.
Be Home When It’s on
The most common reason that space heaters result in home fires is that the owners are not home when they’re running their space heaters. Your space heater should never be running if you’re not at home as you won’t be able to respond quickly if it has a problem. It’s also essential to note that you shouldn’t have your space heater running while you’re sleeping as you lack responsiveness during this time.
Give It at Least Three Feet
Due to the fact that space heaters let off a lot of heat, they can catch flammable objects on fire. It’s best to give your space heater three feet of open space the whole way around it. Be mindful of flammable objects like your curtains or your bookcase, as you don’t want them to be too close to your space heater. They could catch fire.
Go Directly to the Wall Outlet
Where you plug your space heater in will have a big impact on whether or not it’s safe. Space heaters draw a lot of energy which means they should be directly plugged into a wall outlet. And, you shouldn’t be using the outlet that is paired with it as you don’t want to draw too much energy from that circuit. Never plug your space heater into a power strip or an extension cord. This is due to the fact that many of these items cannot handle the amount of power that the space heater needs. They can easily get overloaded and end up causing a fire.
Ensure It Has a Safety Certification
Before you purchase your space heater, you should take the time to see if it has a safety certification on the box. There are three different types of safety certifications that can be given to a particular space heater, which are UL, CSA, and ETL. When the heater has this certification, it ensures you that it’s safe to use as it has passed rigorous testing.
Inspect It Often
Over time, natural wear and tear can deteriorate your space heater to the point where it needs to be replaced. You never want to run a space heater that has a cord with exposed wiring or housing that has started to crack. It’s best to do a quick check over of your entire space heater every time you go to plug it in to make sure that everything is in good condition.
Set Boundaries With Your Kids
Unlike adults, kids don’t always understand the dangers that come along with appliances. It’s highly advisable that you sit down and speak to your kids about boundaries regarding the space heater and the dangers that come along with it. Set restrictions for who is allowed to turn on the space heater and for how close your kids may get to the space heater.
Position It Low in Your Room
You want to avoid putting your space heater on all surfaces but the floor. It’s a bad idea to put a space heater on a coffee table, counter, cabinet, or even furniture for multiple reasons. The most important reason is that it’s more prone to being knocked over. When positioning your space heater, make sure that you don’t place it on the rug or carpeting that is prone to catching fire. Stick to hardwood or vinyl flooring.
Smoke Detectors
Before you opt for turning on your space heater, it’s a good idea to have smoke detectors installed throughout your home. You want to check these smoke detectors at least once a month and replace their batteries every six months. Most experts recommend placing a smoke detector outside the bedrooms in your home and as well as on each level of your home.
Outstanding Heating Services
Hometown Heating, Air & Electric offers outstanding heating services for the entire Cedarburg, WI, community. We’re also happy to help with all of your indoor air quality, AC repair, AC installation, and AC maintenance needs. Call our office today to schedule your next service appointment.
