Space Heaters in Your Home.

​Winter is here again, and we will find ourselves spending more time indoors. We all want to keep our homes and family comfortable and often we find customers reach out for a little extra heat in the form of heated blankets or electric space heater.

Stay Warm, Stay Safe.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third (33%) of home heating fires and four out of five (81%) of home heating fire deaths. Half of all home heating fires occurred in December, January, and February

​Start With The Right Heater

Newer Space heaters often come with advanced safety features that help limit the risks associated with using them. When buying a new space heater make sure to look for the following:

• Has a label from a recognized independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL).
• Choose a heater that has a tip-over safety switch, which turns the heater off automatically if it tips over. This is particularly useful in areas with active children or pets.
• An overheat protection switch, which uses a temperature sensor to detect when internal components become too hot. If an unsafe temperature is detected, the switch automatically shuts off the unit to prevent overheating.
• A  cool-to-the-touch housing  to prevent burns if the heater is touched.
• Select a heater that is the proper size for the room you want to heat.
• A built-in fan, which will spread the heat over a wider area and heat an area faster.

Things To Remember

Even with the best safety features there are safety procedures that must be followed to cut back on fire risks.

• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that might burn or ignite, including furniture, blankets, curtains and paper products. Remember “three feet from the heat” or “a meter from the heater”.
• Before using an existing heater, check for damage. If the cord is frayed or stiff or the heater is cracked or dented, it should be replaced.
• Don’t overload the outlet. Plug only one heat-producing appliance, such as a space heater, into an electrical outlet at a time and don’t plug other devices into same outlet.
• Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into a power strip or an extension cord.
• Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. Unplug the heater after turning it off for added safety.
• Use GFCI or AFCI protected outlets instead of general-purpose outlets if possible to greatly reduce the threat of a fire or electrocution.
• Locate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic. Be careful to keep children and pets away from the heater.

Skyline's Summary

As your neighborhood electrician we look to make homes in the Twin Cities safer everyday. While we understand the benefits to using temporary heating we want to make sure our neighbors are informed on how to enjoy them safely.

1. Check your heating unit (space heater, electric fireplace, electric blanket) to make sure it has the newest safety features and you are following the safe use recommendations above.
2. Anytime a heating or cooling source is plugged in it draws a lot of current. The heater is only as safe as the circuit that is powering it. Even small space heaters can push a circuit to the limit, then when combined with everyday living conveniences (lights, electronics) can push the system to a dangerous point. 
3. Along with the large current draw, plugging in heating units can be very costly on the electric bill. They are designed for temporary use. If you find yourself relying on a heater often to combat a chilly room call our team to discuss long term options that can save you hundreds if not thousands on your electric bill every year.
4. Make sure your home has properly installed and functioning smoke and smoke/co detectors in bedrooms and throughout the house.

If you plan to use a space heater and are not sure if your circuit can safely handle it or are missing proper smoke detectors, call our professional team at Skyline Electric to assess your electrical system.