Space Heater Safety Tips

11/18/2020 (Permalink)

Many of us will be using space heaters to help keep our homes or businesses warm in those hard-to-heat corners and drafty areas. These units can be dangerous, however. Space heaters are high-wattage appliances and do have the potential to cause fires if they are not used correctly. We would like to share some space heater safety tips today to help keep you and those you care about safe:

If you are purchasing a new space heater:

• Make sure that any heater you consider is listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Only purchase one with a sensor that will shut it off automatically if it overheats or gets tipped over if at all possible. 

• Inspect heaters and their cords and plugs. Do not purchase one if you think it could be defective. 

Setting up your space heater:

• Ensure your heater is settled on a solid flat surface, and that it’s at least 3 feet from anything flammable. If it is being used in a garage or workshop, keep it away from any paint, oil, and gas cans. 
• Never place the heater on furniture or cover it up, and be careful of high-traffic areas and doorways; someone could trip over it or the cord and get burned. Never run a power cord under carpets, rugs, or furniture. 
• Plug your heater into an outlet directly rather than using an extension cord or power strip, and ensure that the plug fits well and is the only plug in the outlet.  
• Always keep your heater away from water, and if you’re wet, stay away.

When your space heater is in use: 

• Check your heater regularly during its use to make sure that the plug, cord, outlet, or faceplate isn’t hot. If it is, turn it off immediately; a hot cord may mean it is defective and could ignite a fire. 
• Don’t run your heater 24/7. These units aren’t made to work for long periods of time. 
• Never leave a space heater unattended or in a child’s room, and turn it off while you are sleeping. 
• Install smoke detectors in your home, as well as carbon monoxide alarms and ensure they are tested monthly. 

We hope these best practice tips will help you to use your space heater properly. Here at SERVPRO of South and Northwest Grand Rapids, we want you, your family, and your friends to be safe this winter. If you do experience damage to your home or property, we’re here to help, We are also specialists when it comes to fire damage or water damage, and mold remediation is one of our specialties. We can get your home or business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned if you need it, so ask us how.