Tips To Reduce Space Heater Fires

12/10/2020 (Permalink)

A space heater can still be a useful addition to your home

Types Of Heaters To Buy And How To Use Them

If your home caught fire in Boca Raton, FL, how do you think it might happen? There is a good chance a burned space heater would start it. According to the NFPA, every year, space heaters cause around 25,000 house fires. That number might make you reconsider that cozy little heat blaster you use to warm up the bathroom in the mornings. As convenient as they may be, space heaters account for approximately 43% of all home-heating fires and 53% of all home-heating deaths. For this reason, it is important to put thought into the type of heaters you buy and how you use them.

What Kind of Space Heater Should I Buy?
If you want to avoid having a burned space heater, there are certain safety features you should consider. Make sure the heater you choose has:

• Official safety certification
• An automatic shutoff option
• Ground fault circuit interrupter plug
• Durable cord

What Should I Do (or Not Do)?
After you buy a heater with ideal safety features, how should you use it? For starters, make sure you place it flat on the floor. Do not put it on top of furniture. Next, look around. How close is the nearest water source? This is especially important if you like heating your bathroom. Always keep your heater away from water and at least 3 feet away from flammable goods such as curtains or your cloth sofa.
Additionally, it is never a good idea to leave a space heater unattended. Make sure to turn it off when you leave the house or go to sleep. If one does cause a fire in your home, seek out the help of fire damage restoration experts to assist with fire and smoke cleanup.
To reduce the risk of a burned space heater, take care with all these points. Although space heaters can be dangerous, they have much better safety features today than in the past. If you consider your options carefully and follow some simple safety guidelines, a space heater can still be a useful addition to your home.