When temperatures drop, it’s nice to have a warm, cozy home. If you want to keep things toasty without increasing your heating bill too much, you may consider setting up a space heater. Space heaters can be effective at heating certain areas of your home, but it’s critical for your family’s health and wellbeing to use space heaters safely.
The Dangers of Space Heaters
Each year, space heaters cause thousands of residential fires. Electric space heaters can pose a shock hazard if not handled properly. Since these appliances generally use more electricity than similarly sized portable devices, they can overload certain circuits, potentially leading lead to a power failure or fire. Because of how hot they can get, space heaters also pose a burn hazard, especially to children and pets. If a space heaters gets tipped over—a real possibility due to their size and shape—they can come into contact with flammable items or materials, creating a serious risk of fire.
Tips to Use Space Heaters Safety
In order to use space heaters safely, start by choosing only those that meet industry standards regarding safety (this information should be included with the heater). Here are a few additional tips for protecting yourself and family if you use space heaters this winter:
- Keep pets and young children away from space heaters at all times.
- Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or before going to bed.
- Never use an extension cord with a space heater.
- If a space heater’s wires become frayed or otherwise damaged, don’t use it and replace it immediately
- Never use a space heater in a bathroom, kitchen or anywhere else near water.
Keep Your Home’s Electrical System in Good Working Order
One of the most important things you can do to help guard against the potential dangers of space heaters is to keep your home’s electrical system up to date. If you have concerns in this regard, it’s best to hire a professional to come inspect your system. If you need help with a home-wiring safety inspection, maintenance, other wiring needs, whole-home surge protection or any other aspect of your home electrical system, GVEC Home has a full team of professionally licensed electricians to help.
Call GVEC Home for All Your AC/Heating, Solar and Electrical Needs
GVEC Home has specialized in AC/heating sales and service in the Guadalupe Valley—including 24/7 emergency HVAC repair—since 1968. We also offer a complete line of solar products and services (including battery storage solutions from Tesla) and are proud to field a team of fully licensed professional electricians that can tackle electrical job around your home. For more information on any of our products and services, call us at 888.590.7773.
