Use Space Heaters Properly

Proper use of a space heater is essential for the safety of everyone living within the home. Improper use can result in deadly consequences with far reaching effects. Use space heaters wisely to prevent accidental fires.

Wintertime in the northern hemisphere is notoriously cold and many people use small portable heaters within the home to help keep the chill out. In our local area within the past week, four homes were destroyed by fires, which were started by these space heaters. The last fire claimed the life of a 31-year-old male, to me he is more than a statistic he is my first cousin Matthew.

It's been a harsh winter here in the valley, which we live. Right before the fire, which claimed my cousin's life, we had gotten over a foot of snow. The wind was blowing and creating all kinds of havoc and these space heaters were in use in many homes. These portable units help to keep out the winter chill that invades many homes and most of the time they are safe.

All four fires are being investigated at this time, but it's four too many in such a short time. It's important to examine one of these units before it is used, to insure of its safety. I have one of these portable space heaters and I have used it without any problem for a few years now.

Always plug these items directly into the wall rather than using an extension cord. Extension cords are not always reliable and can easily be tripped over. If someone trips over an extension cord, some of the items on the extension cord can also fall over and with a space heater, this creates a dangerous situation if not fixed immediately.

If the unit becomes cracked toss it out, rather then try to fix it. Saving a few dollars with repairing the unit rather then purchasing a new one may cost a life and is simply not worth it. The same holds true if the unit has a frayed cord rather than spending, a few bucks on electrical tape replace the unit. Get more tips on the proper use of these units here.

When using a portable space heater, use extreme caution. Do not allow it to sit on the floor when there are small children or pets moving around. Instead, sit it on top of a clean table when it can harm no one. Make sure nothing is sitting around it that might impede the airflow or items will catch on fire.

Turn off the space heater when you leave the room or go to sleep. I occasionally use my unit as I am waking in the morning or just before I fall asleep at night. I close my bedroom door to keep the heat contained and simply toss a few more blankets on my bed for when the chill creeps back in.