There are Safety Precautions to Keep in Mind When Using a Space Heater

January 28 01:18 2021
There are Safety Precautions to Keep in Mind When Using a Space Heater

Every winter when the local weather report mentions the words “polar vortex” people flock to hardware and department stores to buy a space heater. With several different styles to choose from these devices are wonders when it comes to providing supplemental heat for your home. Unfortunately, the increased use of space heaters in the winter also coincides with increased fire risks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are 25,000 residential fires and 300 hundred deaths a year caused by space heaters. The risk of using a space heater does not have to outweigh the reward, if people follow a few best practices a space heater can be used all winter long without incident.

Space Heater Safety features

For keeping warm in the winter when adding an extra blanket to the bed just won’t cut it, a space heater is a great option to provide a localized boost of heat to any room in a person’s home. Space heaters are small, portable, inexpensive, and do not need to be installed by an electrician like S.E. Electrical Services, Inc. All commercially available space heaters come with safety features built in to help prevent accidents like fires. 

Power for space heaters do require higher amperage than home electronics. Using a space heater increases the amperage load of the home outlets, possibly creating an electrical fire. It is recommended to run a dedicated line for heaters.

Using a Space Heater Safely

Once a person gets the heater home, they should take a few precautions to use it safely. 

  • Always read the instructions. This may seem like a step that can be skipped since most space heaters are simple to operate, however, the operation manual will include safety information specific to your type of heater like the amount of electricity https://myseelectric.com/about-contact/ needed to operate.

  • 3 feet of space, always ensure that there is at least 3 feet of space between the heater and anything flammable like curtains, wooden furniture, or bedding.

  • Never leave a space heater on and unattended.

  • Space heaters belong on the floor. When people lie in bed, it might feel nice to have the heat from a heater fan blowing right onto them but putting space heaters on furniture or shelves can increase the risk of the heater being knocked over or not venting heat correctly which can increase fire risk.

Space heaters are a great way to meet a person’s additional heating needs. A few simple precautions when operating will ensure the heater is being used safely and prevent a person from becoming a statistic.

S.E. Electrical Services Inc. is a family owned and operated business serving Orange County, California and the surrounding area. They guarantee to provide customers with upfront pricing, clean work site, safety and code compliance. All work performed comes with a 1 year warranty.

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Company Name: S.E. Electrical Services, Inc.
Contact Person: Media Relations
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Phone: (714) 448-6252
Address:6282 Abraham Avenue
City: Westminster
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: www.myseelectric.com/

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