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Home Safety 101 - Portable Space Heaters

This time of the year the weather brings a chill into your home. Portable space heaters have become a popular way to supplement central heating or to heat one room. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has come up with information on the risks of Portable Space Heaters. I am forwarding this information onto you and your family. Two in five deaths in space heater fires involve portable electric heaters. The  NFPA has a great flyer for you to download on Portable Space Heaters that covers all this information on it. 


If you plan to use portable electric space heaters, make sure to follow these tips and recommendations:


Heater Checklist

  • Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory.

  • Keep the heater at least 3 feet (1 metre) away from anything that can burn, including people.

  • Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection.

  • Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.

  • Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over.

  • Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic.

  • Never block an exit.

  • Keep children away from the space heater.

  • Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet.

  • Never use an extension cord.

  • Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed.


Types of electric space heaters 

  • Oil or water-filled radiator Heated oil or water travels through the heater. 

  • Fan-forced heater A fan blows warm air over metal coils. 

  • Ceramic heater Air is warmed over a ceramic heating element. 

  • Infrared heaters Heat is created by infrared bulbs.

I hope that this information will help keep your family and home safe. I thank the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for their commitment to educating everyone on Portable Space Heaters and their dangers.  If you know someone that could benefit from this information please forward it on. Check out my Val Cares Page on my website for more Safety Tips.

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