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Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heat; don’t use them to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes. Run it in spurts. Only use your heater for short periods of time; it shouldn’t be left on 24/7. Turn it off.
How do I make my space heater safer?
Best Practices for Safe Space Heater Use Keep Your Heater Away From Flammable Materials. Proper placement is crucial to ensuring safety and warmth. Use a Grounded Outlet. Turn Off Your Heater When You Leave the Room. Make Sure Your Smoke Alarm Is Fully Charged. Don’t Use the Heater as a Supplemental Dryer.
Is it safe to leave a space heater on while sleeping?
“Never keep your portable electric heater on when you are sleeping; it’s not worth it,” Notini says. Keep a three-foot perimeter around the unit clear. One Bethesda fire station has a sign outside it that says, “Space Heaters Need Space.” Never store clothing on or around the unit, or put it too near curtains or beds.
How likely is it for a space heater to catch fire?
Space heaters are behind 79 percent of deadly home heating fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Half of those fires start because an object sitting within three feet of the heater got too hot and caught fire, but even plugging the equipment into the wrong outlet could put you in danger.
How dangerous are space heaters?
Space heaters generally rely on electricity, propane, natural gas, or kerosene to operate. However, the U.S. Department of Energy warns that unvented portable combustion units should never be used inside a home, as burning fuel can deplete oxygen and pollute indoor air with toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide.
Is it OK to plug a space heater into a surge protector?
Notice that we specifically said wall outlet: Manufacturers advise against plugging space heaters into surge protectors, extension cords, plug timers, GFCI outlets (the kind with the test and reset buttons), or really anything that’s not a wall outlet.
Do electric space heaters produce carbon monoxide?
Have your furnace and fireplace cleaned and checked before each heating season. Only use fuel-burning space heaters in well-ventilated areas. Electrical space heaters pose no danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, unlike those that burn fuels, such as kerosene.
Can a space heater make you sick?
Indirectly, yes, a space heater is capable of making you ill. Just like any other heating device available in stores, space heaters produce copious amounts of carbon monoxide. Sleeping at night with a space heater powered on carries a terrible risk of incurring carbon monoxide poisoning.
Can a space heater cause a fire?
Conclusion. While electric space heaters can help keep room temperatures warm, they can also be dangerous and cause fires. Space heaters should never be left unattended or used within three feet of any combustibles and should always be plugged directly into an outlet.
What heaters are safe to leave on overnight?
Here are the types of heaters you can feel safe and comfortable leaving on overnight: Oil heater This is one of the safest types of heaters. Infrared heater Similar to sunlight, this type of heater uses rays to warm up objects and people rather than the air around them.
How do you stop a space heater fire?
Space Heater Safety: Prevent Space Heater Fires Never leave space heaters unattended. Keep heaters at least 3 feet away from any flammable materials, including furniture, blankets and wastebaskets. Do not place space heaters under your desk or in other enclosed areas.
Why are space heaters a fire hazard?
Electric heaters use a lot of energy and can easily overload circuits, causing a power failure or fire. Heaters that use natural gas, propane or kerosene can be dangerous if their fuel leaks and ignites.
Can I use a heavy duty extension cord with space heater?
Answer: No, you should not use an extension cord with your space heater. Most extension cords can not handle the high currents space heaters draw. Especially small, low-quality extension cords can easily catch fire. Don’t risk your home!.
Is electric heater safe in closed room?
Do not ever leave the heater unattended. Avoid the carbon monoxide poisoning by turning off the heater and unplugging it before leaving the room or going to the bed. Signs of too much carbon monoxide in the rooms include headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, discomfort, vomiting, nausea and weakness.
Why should you not use an extension cord with a space heater?
Space heaters can generate a lot of energy, with heating elements sometimes reaching 600°F, which means they should only ever be plugged directly into a wall outlet. When hooked up to a power strip or extension cord, the outlet can overheat, causing it to short-circuit or to potentially catch fire.
Do I need a surge protector for my heater?
Lt. Rich Chatman with Portland Fire said you should never plug your space heater into an extension cord or power strip. High-voltage appliances like space heaters can overheat power strips, sparking a fire. Chatman said you can use a surge protector with an on and off switch.
Do you need a co2 detector with electric heat?
In fact, most building codes now require a carbon monoxide alarm on every floor of the house. However, if you do not have any sources of combustible fuel in your home — that is, your space heaters and whole-house heating system are electric, as are all of your appliances — then a CO detector isn’t really necessary.
Can electric heater cause headaches?
You may also suffer from headaches due to carbon monoxide from faulty furnaces. Watery/itchy eyes: You can have dry, watery eyes from too much dust and dry air. Sore throat: Your throat can become sore from bacteria and dryness in the air. Dryness: You can feel too dry from your central heating.
What is an unvented space heater?
An unvented heating appliance, also called a vent-free appliance, has no chimney vent and is located in the space being heated. Combustion products are discharged into the heated space rather than exhausted to the outdoors through a chimney.
