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Even if you live somewhere with central heating, sometimes it’s nice to get an extra boost of warmth from a space heater. And though modern space heaters have features that make them safer than earlier versions, it’s still important to keep safety in mind when dealing with anything that produces such high temperatures.
In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year, an estimated 25,000 residential fires are associated with the use of space heaters, resulting in more than 300 deaths and 6,000 trips to the emergency room. If space heaters are winter staples in your household, here are a few things you shouldn’t do, in order to avoid potential safety risks.
Ignore warning labels or tags
Before you even plug your new space heater in, read its warning labels or tags carefully to become familiar with any hazards or safety tips specific to that model, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) advises.
Put it in a high-traffic area
Space heaters do their best work heating a small, enclosed space—like a bedroom with the door shut. But more importantly than that, placing them in a part of your home where people (including children and pets) are constantly walking around can be dangerous. You don’t want anyone to trip and fall, and/or burn themselves.
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Buy the largest space heater available
When it comes to space heaters, bigger isn’t always better, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Instead, the agency recommends buying one that is designed to heat the size of the room where you intend on using it, so you’re not wasting (and paying for) extra energy.
Plug it into an extension cord
Be sure to plug a space heater directly into an outlet on the wall (without anything plugged into the same outlet, if possible) instead of an extension cord or power strip, which the ESFI says could overheat and result in a fire. But if an extension cord can’t be avoided, use the shortest one you can get away with—ideally, a heavy-duty cord of 14-gauge wire or larger.
Put it anywhere in your home
In addition to keeping them out of high-traffic areas, also be sure not to place space heaters within three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing, and rugs, the ESFI warns.
Instead, always put space heaters on flat, level surfaces, avoiding places like cabinets, tables, furniture, or carpet, which can overheat and start a fire, or cause it to tip over more easily. If possible, purchase a unit with a tip-over safety switch, which automatically shuts the heater off if it’s knocked down.
Leave it plugged in all the time
Unplug a space heater when it’s not in use, and never leave it unattended.
from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/3mB6Kpe
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