Space heaters are a good way to supplement your main home heating system, but they can be dangerous if not utilized properly. The main thing to remember about space heaters is to only use them occasionally and to keep them away from anything flammable.
WOLX had some other good suggestions:
"You have the weather coming in, and most people haven't thought about their heating devices, whatever it may be. The space heaters, or the regular heating in the house, or the fireplaces. And they haven't done the maintenance that we suggest that they do," Harrison County Fire Marshal Pat Sullivan said.
Though that maintenance may seem tedious to some, it could very well save your life.
"Those kinds of things can cause fires. If the wires are frayed on your space heaters, if you put the space heaters too close to other things it could burn, such as clothing or wood. Those things, those common sense things. Just get everything away from your space heater," Sullivan said.
Making sure all the elements in the device are working is also a good idea. If you've had a space heater for several years, it might be a good idea to replace it. Still, it's not all about space heaters.
"Using extension cords for the space heaters, using extension cords anywhere in the house is not recommended. Short term, for a few minutes, use it and then unplug it. But to leave it on all the time and use it for your heating devices, that's dangerous," Sullivan said.
Naturally, you'll want to be comfortable and warm in the frigid temperatures. Just remember that safety is of the utmost importance.
For the full article and some more safety tips, click
here.
