During the cold winter months, it’s important to practice fire safety while using space heaters in your home.
The weather is getting colder here in Maryland, and that means more and more people will be using space heaters. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), half of all home heating fires each year are reported during the months of December, January, and February. It’s important to remember to operate home heating appliances safely and appropriately to mitigate the risk of a fire so you can continue to enjoy warm and peaceful evenings. This includes space heaters.
Personal Space Heaters
Personal space heaters are amazing—plug it in and turn it on! These are good for keeping small spaces nice and warm, and many of them now come with safety features to mitigate fire risk. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take appropriate safety precautions when using a personal space heater.
Power
First, where to plug it in? We live in a world of technology, and that means many of us have power strips. Do not plug your personal space heater into an extension cord or power strip. Personal space heaters should always be plugged directly into a wall socket. The reason for this is that power strips, and extension cords don’t receive enough power for the space heater, and this can easily result in the unit overheating and causing a fire.
Placement
Next, where to put it? Make sure that your personal space heater is placed in a clear, open area of your home. There should be at least 3 feet of clearance between the unit and household items and furniture. The 3 feet rule also applies to humans and pets—give your personal space heater a wide berth to avoid sustaining a burn.
Supervision
Another important rule to remember is that personal space heaters should never be left on when they are not being supervised. If you leave the room, leave your home, or go to bed—turn it off. It’s so tempting to leave a personal space heater running through the night to keep your bedroom warm and comfortable during the cold winter months, but this is dangerous. According to NFPA, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. If a fire starts while you’re asleep, it can be difficult to escape. Protect yourself by turning it off.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.