The cold months from December to February are ones with the greatest potential for home fires. Winter is in full force, and everyone wants to stay warm. Clark County residents who pull their portable heaters out of closets, garages or basements should use them safely to avoid fires.
“Properly used space heaters might save money on your heating bill,” said Michael Getman, safety manager for Clark Public Utilities. “Used unsafely, they’re dangerous.”
To save money, only use a heater to warm one room and don’t leave it on constantly. It’s not designed for heating large spaces or for running continuously. That approach will only add to your energy costs.
While retailers offer several heater types, both electric and others using flammable fuels such as propane or kerosene, Getman recommends only using electric heaters indoors.
“Combustable fuel heaters not only get extremely hot, but they give off deadly fumes that build up inside and might asphyxiate you,” he said. “Save them for well-vented outdoor areas, like a screened-in porch.”
That doesn’t mean electric heaters won’t cause fires. Nationwide Insurance Co. developed an infographic on its website that shows that 80 percent of home heating fire deaths involve portable heaters (www.nationwide.com/space-heater-safety-infographic.jsp). Fires started directly or indirectly by space heaters cause nearly $560 million property damage each year.
Here are some tips to help you stay safe while trying to stay warm.
• Read the directions that came with the heater before firing it up.
• Always check to make sure the cord is intact and not frayed.
• Keep your portable heater out of damp areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms. Water is a conductor of electricity and a faulty cord or unit could cause an electric shock or injury.
• Always plug portable heaters directly into the wall. This avoids overheating a power strip or an extension cord that could start a fire. To play it safe, never let your heater share the outlet with any other equipment.
• Prevent someone from tripping over the cord by placing it out of the way. Never run the cord under carpeting. Placing anything on the cord might crack its insulation and start a fire.
• Always put the heater on a level surface at least 3 feet away from anything flammable: curtains, furniture and even walls. Placing one on a tabletop is also unwise.
• “Never leave your portable heater unattended,” Getman said. “If you leave home or go to bed, unplug it.”
• Unattended portable heaters can burn small children. Teach children not to touch the heater or play around it. The heater should have a guard or a protective grill to prevent little fingers from poking hot elements. Kids and pets can tip heaters over. So if your heater doesn’t have an automatic tip-over shutoff, consider buying a newer model that does. If you have several indoor pets, such as cats and dogs, make sure to vacuum the pet hair up daily, because if it floats into the air and touches the heater, it’s liable to smoke or ignite.
• “Once you pull out your portable heater for winter use, it’s smart to test whether your fire and carbon monoxide alarms are working, too,” Getman said.
• In the spring, vacuum off the heater before you store it in a box, or cover it with a plastic bag, to keep out dust and animal hair. Then, it will be ready for next year.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
