Space Heater Safety

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

A Space heater sitting in the middle of the living room. There is a couch, slippers, and a coffee table sitting behind it. .

When outdoor temperatures drop, some people use space heaters to add a little extra heat in their home or room. There are more than 65,000 fires that are caused by heating equipment annually. With those fires, thousands of injuries, hundreds of deaths, and millions of dollars in property damage occur. These fires are often started by heaters placed too close to combustible materials, being improperly plugged in, or simply being improperly utilized.

Safety should be everyone’s top concern when it comes to space heaters. Here are some safety tips to keep you and your family safe.

• Turn it off when you’re leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Don’t let pets or children play close to the heater.
• Make sure your space heater has a recognized laboratory testing sticker on it.
• Take the time to read the instructions and warning labels.
• A space heater is only a supplemental heater, not a source to heat your bedding, cook food, dry clothes, or thaw pipes.
• Must keep the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can catch on fire.
• Place the heater flat on the ground. Never place them on cabinets, furniture, carpet, or any surface that can catch on fire.
• Always plug the heater straight into the outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip.
• When you are done using the heater, unplug it and put away in a safe location after it has fully cooled.

We here at SERVPRO of Casper hope you have a warm and safe winter!