Are Space Heaters Safe?

12/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of spencer & Iowa Great Lakes specializes in cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire.

When the temperature drops, portable space heaters can be a convenient source of supplemental heat for your home. But as reports of triggered house fires continue to grab headlines, many people are wondering: are portable heaters dangerous? No, unless yours is really old or you're using it incorrectly. According to the NFPA in 2018 heating equipment was the second-leading cause of U.S. home fires and the third-leading cause of home fire deaths. 

Space Heater Safety Tips 

• Do not plug them into a power strip! Space heaters should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater. Because of the energy load and extra electrical current flow that a space heater generates, if it is plugged into a power strip, it could overheat and result in a fire. 
• Choose a heater that has been tested, approved and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. 
• Never leave the room while the space heater is on. 
• If the heaters plugs, connections or power cord is frayed, damaged, worn or lose, do not use the space heater. 
• Always read and follow the instructions and heed warning labels. 
• Don't leave a space heater on while you are sleeping. 
• Make sure you have functional smoke alarms throughout your  home. Test them regularly and change the batteries every six months. Fire extinguishers can be a small but important part of the home fire safety plan. They can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or suppressing it until the fire department arrives. 
• Keep children and pets away from the space heater when it is plugged in. 
• Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heating, no cooking, drying clothing or thawing frozen pipes. 
• Position your space heaters so that they are at least three feet away from anything that can burn such as furniture, drapes, pillows, bedding and paper. 
• Position space heaters on the floor where the surface is level and flat. 
• Keep heaters away from high foot-traffic areas to reduce the chance of them being tripped over and/or otherwise being kicked over. 
• Do not put space heaters on chairs, furniture, counters or tables where they will be unstable and/or could overheat and catch fire. 
• Don not put anything over the top of a space heater. 
• Unplug space heaters when not in use. 
• Clean, inspect and maintain your space heater in good working order. 
• Purchase a heater with tip-over protection, which means the space heater will automatically shut off if it is tipped over. 
• Purchase a heater with overheat protection, which means the space heater will automatically shut off if its internal components get too hot. 
• This should go without saying, but electricity and water are an even deadlier combination than orange juice and toothpaste. Keep your space heater out of bathrooms and kitchens. 

Space heaters should never be considered an adequate replacement for a HVAC unit, but moderate, safe use of a space heater can be a good, simple way to save money and stay warm. Always remember that if a fire breaks out, it can be tempting to douse the flames with water, but water should never be used to put out an electrical fire. Water conducts electricity, and dumping water on or near a power source can give you a severe electrical shock. It could even make the fire worse. Water can conduct the electricity to other parts of the room, running the risk of igniting other flammable objects nearby. If your home or business has suffered from fire or smoke damage call the professionals at SERVPRO of Spencer & Iowa Great Lakes for 24/7 emergency services.