As soon as the temperature dips, many folks whip out the space heaters. When some homes’ central heating don’t cut it, space heaters help to bring warmth to select rooms that could use a blast of heat. But despite their utility, space heaters can be extremely dangerous when users mishandle or use them improperly.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 25,000 residential fires are the result of space heaters each year; the commission also estimates space heaters cause over 300 deaths a year and send 6,000 people to the hospital due to burns. It’s a fact that’s front of mind right now in America: on January 9, 2022, a fire in a Bronx, New York apartment building killed 19 people, with the fire commissioner saying a malfunctioning space heater caused the fire.
Most space heaters — the good ones, at least — have built-in safety features — like automatic shut-off or tip-over protection — to prevent anything bad from happening. With many people turning to space heaters to stay warm this winter, it’s of the utmost importance to follow a few safety tips to make sure they stay warm and safe. Here are six ways to use your space heater safely and properly.
Don’t Leave a Space Heater Unattended
When you’re not in proximity to your space heater, don’t keep it on. If something were to go wrong, you need to be able to quickly jump into action to prevent anything bad from happening. You can never be too sure that a space heater’s safety features will be enough to prevent the worst.
