Space Heater Safety

Don’t worry folks, winter is almost over! But there are still plenty of chilly days ahead that will no doubt require your home to be heated. Space heaters are a great alternative to using residential furnaces because they are energy efficient and can quickly and evenly heat a room. However, they aren’t without risks, so it’s important to know about space heater safety.

Space heaters causes thousands of house fires every year. Modern space heaters have incorporated new technology — like circuit breakers and automatic shutoffs — to help prevent accidents, but they are not foolproof. No matter what type of space heater you may choose to use, it’s still very important to follow these safety tips:

1. Keep flammable items at least three feet away from the heating device.

2. Teach your children about the heat that heaters put out and have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around your space heaters.

3. Do not leave portable heaters running when leaving the room or going to bed.

4. If you are using a fuel-burning space heater, only use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer.

5. Test smoke alarms on a regular basis.

Can you provide some more space heater safety tips? Anyone know of the best, safest brand of space heater?

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