What Every Los Angeles Area Homeowner Should Know About Using Space Heaters
Although space heaters are generally regarded as safe today, there is significant statistical evidence that fires do still occur resulting in deaths and millions in dollars worth of property damage. In fact, statistically one in every 20 fires results in a fatality.
Ironically, most of the serious fires are actually NOT caused by the heater itself, but by human error and bad judgment such as placing combustible items in the vicinity of the unit itself.
Although I generally recommend a ductless mini-split system or even ZONE CONTROLS on central HVAC or furnace systems if the desired effect is heating a smaller area rather than the entire home, if a homeowner or apartment dweller in Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley is intent on using a space heater during the colder winter Southern California months, he or she should use such unit correctly to avoid any possible accidents.
Paying close attention to the following common sense space heater safety tips will dramatically diminish the risk of a fire incident, preventing property damage and even death:
Critical Safety Tips to keep in mind when using a Space Heater:
- Avoid relying on a space heater to heat up an entire room. Use it only for a few hours at a time and always while attended, and never when you’re sleeping.
- Don’t buy an old space unit from a garage sale. Old means anything over ten years.
- If you must buy a second hand or older one, only buy a space heater that is UL certified (Underwriters’ Laboratory) (this goes for new units as well). Certified and tested heaters will have industry accepted safety features that prevent fire hazards, whereas older heaters may not.
- Read the heater’s manufacturer guidelines for safety and usage, and follow them… don’t skip this step, most people do.
- Secure the unit and make sure it is STABLE. The space heater should ALWAYS rests on a level surface.
- Keep it away from pets, busy foot traffic, children etc. to reduce the risk of knocking it over, increasing the fire hazard.
- Keep the space heater away from combustible items like carpeting, rugs, furniture drapes and other household items. It should be at least four feet from ANY of these items.
- Never use extension cords with the heater. If you need a longer plug, use a high-gauge/power cord.
- If you have pets or children, be EXTRA vigilant… they could burn themselves AND knock the unit over.
- Never position a space heater in a bathroom or near a utility or kitchen sink. In other words, keep space heaters AWAY from ANY water source.
- Always turn the device off when you leave the room… even if you think it is for a short time.
- If a space heater is running in a room where someone is sleeping, shut it off.
- If you are going to use a space heater, make it an electric one. Avoiding using kerosene space heaters or anything with combustible fuels. This increases the risk of a fire.
- Install smoke detectors in your home so that you are quickly alerted to a fire. Test them regularly to ensure the detectors are functional in case something does go wrong. If you follow all these basic guidelines, you can safely operate a space heater in your home and reduce the risk of a fire. For more help with any home heating issues or services contact a professional heating contractor in the LA area!
If you follow all these basic guidelines, you can safely operate a space heater in your home and reduce the risk of a fire. For more help with any home heating issues or services contact a professional heating contractor in the LA area!