This may surprise you to learn, but every single year more than 22,000 residential fires are started in the wintertime by folks using heaters designed to keep people in that home safe and warm.
On top of that, over 300 people die annually in fires caused by these heater accidents – and that doesn’t even get into how many pets are lost to these kinds of fires, too.
It’s incredibly important that you are safe with your heaters, especially heaters that you are using for the first time.
Listen to the safety tips shared below (the same kinds of tips the best heating repair in Riverdale, NJ experts would tell you, too) to protect yourself, your property, and your loved ones this winter.
5 Heater Safety Tips for Your Home
Keep Heaters Away from Flammable Materials
It’s important to keep heaters away from flammable materials, such as curtains, furniture, and clothing. These materials can easily catch fire if they come into contact with a heater, so it’s best to keep them at a safe distance.
Make sure that all flammable materials are positioned at least 3 feet away from any heat source that could combust them. This is absolutely critical.
Don’t Leave Heaters Unattended
Heaters can pose a fire hazard if they are left unattended, so it’s important to never leave a heater running while you are away from home. If you need to leave the house, make sure to turn off the heater and unplug it before you go.
Never leave a heater alone and unintended, even just for a couple of minutes. It doesn’t take very long for these accidents to quickly spiral into problems that are almost impossible to corral.
Don’t Use Extension Cords with Heaters
Extension cords are not designed to handle the power demands of a heater, so it’s important not to use them with heaters. Instead, make sure your heater is plugged directly into a wall outlet that is capable of handling the electrical load.
If the wall outlet that you are plugging your heater into consistently causes your circuit breakers to trip off it’s time to stop using that heater in that outlet – and it may be time to call in the professionals to look at your electrical panel (or look at your heater) to figure out why the overload is happening so regularly.
Don’t risk a major electrical fire by leaving these heaters plugged in and just flipping the breaker back on a couple of times each day.
Keep Heaters Out of Reach of Children and Pets
Heaters can pose a burn hazard to children and pets, so it’s important to keep them out of reach. Make sure that these heaters aren’t positioned on top of things that can tip over or placed up so high that falling over (even accidentally) could cause injury, too.
If you have small children or pets in your home, consider using a heater with a built-in safety guard or placing your heater on a high shelf or table.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
It’s important to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your heater to ensure that it is used safely and properly. This will help you avoid potential hazards and ensure that your heater is working at its best.
As always, reading the manual before you use your heater is definitely recommended.
Closing Thoughts
At the end of the day, so long as you keep the tips we highlighted above in mind you should be able to confidently use your heater safely when the winter temperatures start to fall.
If you’re ever nervous about using a heater or unsure if you are using it safely, reach out to professionals in Riverdale, NJ to get their advice.
They’ll make sure you’re using your heater safely for sure!
