Space Heater Safety

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

Space heaters, when used properly, are safe and can cut your utility bill.

On January 17, 2018 a space heater caused a fire to break out at 4:30 a.m. at a home on Brooksdale Drive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. While one of the two residents had to be hospitalized, the residents of that home were lucky. The local fire rescue department had installed smoke detectors in the home and those detectors alerted the residents and helped get them to safety. 

Space heaters cause about one-third of all winter house fires and 80 percent of all winter heating fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Having combustible materials too close to a space heater (or heating unit) accounts for more than half of all home heating fire deaths across the country.  But for us here in the Bloomfield/Enfield Connecticut region, here are three pieces of good news about space heaters and fire safety.  

1. Your local Connecticut fire department may offer free smoke alarms.
You may be able to call your local fire department and have them inspect your home and provide free smoke alarms. Programs like this one in Bridgeport, Connecticut happen frequently. In Meriden, Connecticut in 2018 a foundation bought hundreds of smoke detectors for the local fire department to give away.  

2. Today’s space heaters are safer.
Consumer Reports says that space heaters get a bad rap. Many of today’s space heaters are not just better-looking but also safer. In the past 10 years manufacturers have improved built-in safety features like a tip-over shut-off switch says Jill Notini, vice president of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.  

Space heater or other fire safety concerns? Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785 anytime  

3. Follow simple safety rules and you greatly reduce or eliminate any space heater concerns.
Here are some basic rules for using space heaters:  

A. Use newer space heaters, not older models.
B. Never buy a used space heater.
C. Only buy a space heater that has a safety certification from the Underwriters Laboratories or Intertek’s ETL Mark.
D. Don’t leave your space heater on when you’re not in the room.

Space heater or other fire safety concerns? Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785 anytime  

E. Plug your heater directly into an outlet.
Avoid using an extension cord or power strip because they could overheat.
F. Keep a three-foot perimeter around the space heater clear.
Never store clothing around or on the heater or place it too close to curtains or a bed.
G. Beware of children and pets around a space heater.
Either could knock over a space heater. And unplug the heater when you’re not using it.

Adding a portable space heater to your cold-weather arsenal can make bitter cold winter days much more bearable. When used with care, space heaters can provide safe supplemental heat in a small, targeted area.  

More Safety Information  
Every month on the SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield blog we publish educational articles on how to protect your home and business from fire disasters repair.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860-216-2785 anytime