Throw Your Space Heater Away Immediately If You Notice This

Space heaters work well to heat up a room in the winter, but if you're not careful they can be dangerous. Excluding a failure to clean such equipment, home heating appliances are the leading cause of house fires, states the National Fire Protection Association. This is why it is important to, in addition to cleaning your equipment, make sure you purchase a space heater with safety settings, set it up in the correct environment, and regularly inspect that it is still working correctly.

There are multiple types of space heaters, most of which work by either circulating warm air or heating nearby objects. The more-efficient radiant heaters emit infrared radiation, which focuses heat to individual objects, rather than expending energy heating the entire room. This is dangerous because if the heater is put too close to flammable materials, it could easily start a fire, according to Becker Law. Space heaters also pose the risk of causing an electrical fire. Both radiant and convection heaters can spark and cause electrical burns or fires.

There are several things to check to ensure that your space heater is working safely. The first thing to consider is the type of safety testing standards the device meets. If you have an older unit, it may not work as efficiently or safely as newer models that come with features such as an auto-shutoff. Inspecting the cord will also help prevent electrical fires. If it looks frayed, cracked, or has scorch marks, then the space heater should be properly repaired or replaced.

The National Fire Prevention Association provides helpful safety guidelines for using a space heater. Forest and foremost, the unit should be placed at a minimum of a yard away from flammable objects. This includes rugs, furniture, curtains, blankets, or reading materials. Space heaters should never be plugged into extension cords, and should be switched off if left without anyone in the room or overnight when all household members are asleep.