| During the cold season, people turn on their | | | | fumes from building up and harming your family, |
| heaters to warm up their home. However, these | | | | carbon monoxide poisoning, or explosion. Allow |
| could be a bit wasteful when only a certain area | | | | fresh air to go inside the area to reduce the |
| of your house is occupied. Space heaters are the | | | | pollutants present in the room. |
| answer to that. They are designed to warm up | | | | - Store the fuel outside your home in a safe |
| selected areas of your house or to supplement | | | | container, and label it clearly with KEROSENE to |
| your current heater when it could not distribute | | | | avoid any fuel confusion. |
| warmth equally around your house. | | | | For wood burning space heaters: |
| There are two space heater technologies, the | | | | - Buy heaters that are approved by the EPA |
| convection and radiant space heaters. Convection | | | | emission standards. |
| works by flowing warm air around the room while | | | | - Check and clean creosote buildup. |
| the radiant type works by direct radiation from | | | | - Only use the proper fuel, wood, and do not burn |
| hot exteriors. The former is advisable for use in | | | | other things such as paper. |
| well insulated areas with average ceiling height | | | | - To remove ashes, it is best if you use a metal |
| while the latter is better suited for areas with | | | | container. |
| higher ceilings. | | | | For gas space heaters that uses propane or |
| Several types of conventional fuel - based space | | | | natural gas: |
| heaters, depending on what fuel they use, are | | | | - Install carbon monoxide detectors in your house |
| available in the market. One type uses kerosene | | | | that will alarm you if carbon monoxide inside your |
| as its fuel source. The greatest advantage it | | | | house has reached dangerous levels. |
| brings is that it works even without electricity. | | | | - Look for a model that has oxygen depletion |
| Another type makes use of wood burning, and | | | | sensors. This will determine if the oxygen present |
| this is very similar to built in fireplace but is more | | | | in the air has dropped drastically and will |
| energy efficient. The third type uses propane as | | | | automatically turn off the heater. |
| its source and the last one makes use of natural | | | | - Inspect your heater regularly to see if there are |
| gas. Natural gas space heaters are the most | | | | no damages in any of its parts. It is also |
| inexpensive among the other types, and produce | | | | recommended to check if the connection devices |
| the least amount of carbon dioxide when used.If | | | | are properly positioned and if they are compatible |
| you are planning to buy gas space heaters, here | | | | to avoid any leakages. |
| are some things you must consider: | | | | - If being used indoor, again, proper ventilation is |
| - For kerosene heaters: | | | | of utmost importance. |
| - When refueling, bring it outside your house and | | | | These can be very useful but may pose danger if |
| away from any combustible materials. Remember | | | | not used properly. So if you are planning to warm |
| to turn off the heater and let it cool down before | | | | up your winter with any of these products, then |
| being moved. | | | | you must practice keeping in mind every safety |
| - Do not exceed the "full" mark when refueling to | | | | measures available to ensure that none of your |
| avoid leakage. | | | | family members will get harmed. |
| - Proper ventilation is very important to avoid | | | | |