10 Safety Tips for Space Heaters

12/30/2019 (Permalink)

When staying warm, it's important to keep fire safety in mind when using space heaters.

Thankfully, northeast Florida has a pretty mild winter, but we do have some cold weather. Often on our chilly Florida nights, it’s common for families to use space heaters to take the chill off. Space heaters can be a more affordable alternative to central heat when you don’t need to heat the whole house. They can also boost the temperature of rooms used by individuals who may be sensitive to cold, especially elderly persons, without sacrificing the comfort of other family members.

Safety is very important when using space heaters. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires yearly are associated with space heaters, resulting in more than 300 deaths. In addition, an estimated 6,000 people are treated in emergency rooms due to contact with the hot surfaces of room heaters, mostly in non-fire situations.

However, space heaters, especially older ones come with a fire risk. Here are eight tips to consider if you use space heaters in your North Jacksonville or Fernandina area home.

1. Never plug your space heater into a surge protector. Plug it directly into a wall receptacle.
2. Avoid using space heaters in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
3. Be sure your space heater has a tip over feature that makes it turn off if knocked over. If not, consider replacing it.
4. Monitor your pets closely around the space heater.
5. Never leave space heaters unattended, especially around children.
6. Do not operate a space heater while you are sleeping. Always turn them off and unplug them before going to bed.
7. Avoid placing your heater in walkways where they are more apt to be knocked over.
8. Keep your space heater away from curtains, blankets and other fabric materials. Keep anything that can heat at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn.
9. If your space heater cords are tattered or it’s not working as expected, turn it off and have it checked by an electrician or consider replacing it.
10. Be sure everyone in your home knows how to safely use your space heater.

Practicing good safety measures can drastically reduce the risk of a fire or injury in your home, but accidents can and do happen. If you ever need assistance with clean up after a fire in your home or business, our team at SERVPRO specializes in fire damage repair and restoration and can work with your insurance carrier to get things back to normal.