Space Heater

Space heaters are a great way to supplement a main heating system for rooms that are inadequately heated. It can also be a way to zone your heating, only have space heaters for rooms that need to warmer than the rest of the house. However, safety is an important concern for space heaters, the government estimates that more than 25,000 fires each year are associated with their use! With that frightening statistic, it is important to understand some of the safety precautions you can take. Here are some guidelines from Energy Savers:

Only purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features. Make sure the heater has the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) label attached to it.

Choose a thermostatically controlled heaters, since they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room.

Select a heater of the proper size for the room you wish to heat. Do not purchase oversized heaters. Most heaters come with a general sizing table.

Locate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic. Be especially careful to keep children and pets away from the heater.

For more information about space heater safety, check out more the Energy Saver's website.