| Basements can be used for various purposes, | | | | * Propane heaters are good for smaller basement |
| laundry, storage, bedrooms, home office space, | | | | rooms, around 300 square feet. They radiate |
| and more. They can also be a cool retreat from | | | | heat using propane gas as its fuel. They do not |
| the summer heat. But when the weather gets | | | | require electricity or ductwork. It also warms |
| colder, the cool chill of a basement is much less | | | | objects and people before it warms the air. |
| desirable. If you want to spend any time in your | | | | A Few Safety Tips Regarding Space Heaters |
| basement in the winter, you need to heat it. | | | | * Place heaters on the floor NOT on the furniture |
| How Can I Heat My Basement? | | | | or tables, where they may fall, dislodging or |
| One of the effective ways to heat your | | | | breaking parts in the heater, which could result in |
| basement is with a fireplace, if you have a full | | | | a fire or shock hazard. |
| functional fireplace. But a fireplace can be | | | | * Do not use heaters in wet or moist places, |
| expensive and difficult to install. For those people | | | | unless is it certified for that purpose. Damage or |
| who do not have a functional fireplace in their | | | | corrosion to parts of the heater may result in a |
| home, there are still options for warming up the | | | | shock hazard or fire. |
| basement. Portable heaters are available in many | | | | * Be sure that the plug fits snugly in the electrical |
| types and styles. Among the different options | | | | outlet you are using. A loose plug can overheat, |
| include a heavy duty electric heater, baseboard | | | | resulting in a fire. |
| heaters, ceramic heaters, fan heaters and | | | | * Do not place a rug or carpet over the cords, |
| propane space heaters. | | | | doing so can cause the cord to overheat causing |
| * Heavy duty electric heaters are used to heat | | | | a fire |
| larger areas. They are capable of heating a room | | | | * If your heater breaks, take it to a qualified |
| to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Economical and | | | | repair person. Do not attempt to fix it yourself. |
| easy to handle, the heating element heats the oil, | | | | * Be sure that all your unvented gas-fired heaters |
| which in turn heats the air surrounding it. Heavy | | | | are equipped with an oxygen depletion sensor. |
| duty electric heaters have no exposed elements, | | | | This sensor detects a reduced level of oxygen |
| so it is safe to touch. | | | | around the heater, and shuts it off before a |
| * Electric baseboard heaters have an heating | | | | hazardous amount of carbon monoxide |
| element that warms the air passing through it. | | | | accumulates. Heed the warnings about the |
| Warmer air rises up the heater, while the colder | | | | dangers of carbon monoxide that are labeled on |
| air is pulled down to be heated. They are good | | | | the heater. |
| for room by room heating. Baseboard heaters do | | | | * Have your gas heater and venting system |
| not require much space and do not require any | | | | installed and inspected by professionals according |
| ductwork. They are a good choice for basement | | | | to local codes. |
| heating in homes that are newly constructed or | | | | * Make sure that gas-fired heaters are vented |
| remodeled. Baseboard heaters are easy to install | | | | properly |
| in just about any kind of space. They are quiet | | | | * IF YOU SMELL GAS, DO NOT TRY TO LIGHT |
| and draft free and make it easy to control the | | | | THE APPLIANCE. Do not touch any electrical |
| temperature in each room. | | | | switches, or try to use the phone. Open a |
| * Ceramic heaters work by using a fan to push | | | | window or door and leave the area immediately. |
| the air over a ceramic heating element. A huge | | | | Then go to a neighbor and call a gas service |
| grill that oscillates the twin heating elements give | | | | person or fire department to alert them of the |
| the heater the ability to heat up a larger area. | | | | leak. |
| Ceramic heaters also come with a foot switch, | | | | * Equip your home with at least one smoke alarm |
| tip-over switch, built-in air filter, overheat sensor | | | | and carbon monoxide detector per floor. |
| and an anti-freeze setting. | | | | * Be sure you keep at least one dry-powder |
| * Fan heaters use a fan to push air over a | | | | operative, ABC-type fire extinguisher in the home |
| heating element. This function therefore reduces | | | | at all times. |
| the thermal resistance between the heating | | | | * Keep areas around heat sources free of |
| element and the surroundings, heating an area | | | | papers, trash and debris which may catch fire. |
| more quickly. | | | | |