With the frigid weather of winter, your family might be relying on portable heaters more often. It is critical to take special precautions to prevent injuries and the odds of a fire. In this blog, you will find some advice on portable heater safety.

Unit Location

Keep your portable heater a certain distance (3+ feet) away from surrounding objects. This includes couches, window treatments, blankets, and household liquids. Items that is in contact with a portable heater might become inflamed, especially if they are combustible.

Homes with Children

Not all portable heaters are safe around children. Keep heaters away from the reach of little ones to prevent burns. If a portable heater is in a place that is impossible to block off, think about newer portable heater models that are particularly designed with child safety enhancements such as exteriors that do not burn.

Equipment Condition

Ensure that your portable heater is working correctly. Inspect the cords and the condition of other sections. If your heater exhibits traces of damage, have it inspected by a mechanic to certify that it is alright to run. You may need to repair individual pieces if damaged.

Connecting Portable Heaters

Portable heaters typically use a lot of electricity. If your home is not sufficiently set up to run several appliances, you may need to plug portable heaters into a separate outlet from other appliances. You might also need to select outlets on independent fuses/circuits. Do not use power strips as they present further dangers.

Automatic Shutoff

Try not to leave heaters operating constantly for extended periods of time. This can increase the possibility of overheating. Modern portable heaters will come with an automatic shut-off, but older models do not have this added feature. For older units, be sure to shut them off at night or when you are away from the home. They are not good to leave on when you are away from the room.

Summary of Advice On Portable Heater Safety

For portable heaters, it is safer to buy a newer model. Newer units come with added features like cool touch casings and temperature shutoff settings. They also consume less power, lowering your electricity charges and minimizing the possibility of blown fuses. Keeping in mind the advice on portable heater safety provided above will help you remain warm and safe this season.