| With all the snow and chilly winds whipping across | | | | - thawing frozen pipes |
| the country, people are looking for additional | | | | - drying items on or near the unit |
| methods to keep warm. Space heaters frequently | | | | Further, when purchasing a space heater ensure |
| make the list along with thicker wool sweaters | | | | that it has four features: 1) it has been tested by |
| and socks. As wool products are generally very | | | | an independent laboratory such as Underwriter's |
| difficult to make unsafe, I will focus only on | | | | Laboratories (UL), 2) it is fully enclosed, 3) it has a |
| safety measures for space heaters. | | | | tip sensor and 4) it has a timer. First, it is |
| Space heaters have become much safer over | | | | important that your heater has been tested by a |
| the past couple of decades, however, they still | | | | laboratory so that you know you are purchasing |
| posses the potential for catastrophe if not used | | | | a quality device without defects or poor |
| properly. Specifically, the U.S Consumer Product | | | | craftsmanship. In this fashion, you will avoid many |
| Safety Commission estimates that 25,000 | | | | dangerous issues. Second, a fully enclosed heater |
| residential fires occur annually with 300 fatalities as | | | | is constructed so that the exterior does not |
| result of improperly utilized space heaters. Those | | | | become sufficiently hot to burn somebody |
| are scary statistics but, fortunately, properly used | | | | touching the heater. Third, a timer is necessary so |
| they should not pose a hazard. | | | | that your heater does not run for long periods of |
| The most important safety consideration is to | | | | time. Running a a space heater continuously can |
| keep a distance of at least four feet around the | | | | allow it to overheat and cause a fire. To avoid |
| heater completely free of objects or people. | | | | this, set the timer on your heater for several |
| Stray items such as blankets, toys, plastic | | | | hours so that you do not have to worry about |
| containers, etc. leaning against or in close | | | | turning it off at a particular time. It is one less |
| proximity to the heater can cause a fire. In fact, | | | | important item that you have to keep in mind. |
| a 2005 Harvard University analysis found that the | | | | Lastly, It is not uncommon for space heater fires |
| leading cause of space heater fires was | | | | to result from tipped over heaters igniting the |
| combustibles too close to the unit. | | | | carpet on the floor. Avoid this possibility with a tip |
| Next, do not use extension cords with your | | | | sensor. Heaters equipped with a tip sensor will |
| electric space heater -- plug it directly into an | | | | shut themselves off if they are propelled into any |
| outlet. Preferably, the outlet will have an AFCI | | | | position other than their proper operating |
| (arc-fault circuit interrupter). Electric space heaters | | | | orientation. |
| draw a lot of current and can easily overload light | | | | Although this may be obvious, it is important |
| duty extension cords and power strips. If you | | | | enough to mention -- keep a sharp eye on pets |
| must use and extension cord, be sure to buy a | | | | and children in the vicinity of an operating space |
| heavy duty model available at hardware and | | | | heater. Curiosity and space heaters do not mix |
| home improvement stores. If a cord is only two | | | | well at all. |
| pronged, it is absolutely not fit to work with a | | | | Finally, when first using your heater at the |
| heater. Additionally, be sure to route or secure | | | | beginning of the colder seasons, be sure to |
| the cord in such a fashion that it won't be a | | | | inspect it for fraying wires and broken parts. |
| tripping hazard. | | | | Repair any issues before placing your heater into |
| A few things NOT to do with your space heater | | | | operation. |
| include: | | | | Keeping these pointers in mind will help keep you |
| - using an electric version in a bathroom | | | | and your family toasty warm without an |
| - leaving it on while nobody is in the room or in | | | | increased risk of harm. That is certainly better |
| the house | | | | than needing to break out the ugly wool sweater |
| - cooking over the unit | | | | at the back of your closet! |