A Guide to Home Space Heater Safety
Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
by Jason Forthofer
Space heaters provide a basic source of warmth for millions of American homes. Yet experts report that malfunctioning and improperly used space heaters result in thousands of fires each year, and contribute to hundreds of deaths.
Home heating bills have steadily risen over the past few years, creating an increased demand for space heaters which can warm only desired sections of the house. While modern space heaters are safer than ever before, parents and homeowners should still use them with caution.
Most home space heaters run on either propane gas or electricity. Electric space heaters are the more expensive of the two to operate, while propane heaters present a greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some older residential buildings may still use the open-flame heaters of times past; these should be treated with the same caution and wariness as any other type of open flame.
Modern space heaters offer huge leaps forward in efficiency, safety.
Ceramic heaters are among the latest home heating innovation, and provide substantial advantages over the conventional nickel-cadmium heating elements of times past. Ceramic heating elements can be placed in plastic casings, making them much more affordable for the average family. More importantly, they are less likely to result in fire. However, plugging them into an old or underpowered wall socket can still present a sparking or fire hazard.
Getting the right space heater for your family
The National Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests buying a space heater that's the right size for the area(s) you want to heat. Too much heat wastes electricity; a heater that's too small is essentially a waste of money.
Fire prevention experts recommend buying only heaters that have been tested by Underwriters Laboratories or other nonaffiliated third-party consumer testing agencies. Such groups will give their seal of approval to heater units that surpass their rigorous testing.
Make sure the heater you buy has an automatic cutoff switch if it gets too hot or tips forward onto its front.
Reducing the risk of fire
Space heaters should always be plugged directly into the wall socket, without an extension cord. Keep the cord wrapped up to prevent a tripping hazard. Make sure the heater's power cord is clean and free of rust and corrosion.
Keep the heater off rugs and floor carpet if possible. All areas in a three-foot diameter of the heater should remain open and free of furniture, drapes, or other potentially flammable materials.
When storing the heater in the summer months, keep the unit inside its packaging box. This will prevent dirt and dust from accumulating on top and within that can pose a fire hazard once the heater is used the following winter.
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