Space Heaters and Safety

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Throughout the years various types of space heaters have been the blame for many building fires. Many people have questioned just how safe they can be in fact. Typically, if the heater is used properly and all given instructions are followed they should be perfectly safe.

Newer models on the market today make use of ceramic tiles instead of the coils that were once used. While coils were heated and could easily cause a burn, ceramic tiles do not because the tile itself does not physically heat. Instead, the heat generated is transferred through a fan in the system to be pushed out into the room.

Space heaters are made to only be used in a single room as long as it has good ventilation unless you are using electrical models that will not require this ventilation.

Regardless of the type of heaters you’re using, you should always use common sense, and place the heaters a good distance from anything flammable – such as curtains, rugs or other loose pieces of cloth in the room. This is especially important with radiant heaters, such as a halogen heater, as they get much hotter than fan or convection heaters. Most manufacturers recommend at least a 3 to 5 foot distance from anything to prevent a fire hazard.

For maximum safety you should buy a heater that has a thermostat so that it will kick on and off as needed instead of continually heating the area. The continuous running of heat can cause overheating which can greatly increase the fire risk potential.

Make sure that any time you use one of these heaters that their is a protective cover in place as well if the front surface actually heats. This protects you from an accidental burn if you come into contact with it. For models that don’t actually exert a physically heated front surface you won’t have to worry about this measure.

In closing, it is always best to follow the recommended guidelines for usage. Failure to do so could result in injury or even death in some situations, both of which are easily preventable.

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