EnergyWise Tip: Purchase and Use Space Heaters Correctly

A leading cause of home fires

If you plan to use space heaters to help heat your home this winter, use extreme caution, advises safety professionals at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL). According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) supplemental heating equipment, such as electrical and kerosene heaters, is the leading cause of home fires during December, January and February and trails only cooking equipment as the leading cause of home fires year-round.

A lot of hot air
Here’s something else to be on the watch for. Some advertisers promote the sale of space heaters with, well, a lot of hot air. You may have heard radio ads or seen print ads that claim you can lower your heating bill by up to 50 percent by just buying their electric space heater. Not true. Dozens of reviews have been published at Amazon.com and InformercialRatings.com from owners who say space heaters did not perform as advertised. The advice offered by your local utility on how to best heat your home is to invest in weatherization and insulation along with a quality electric heating system and adequate automated backup heating system.

A space heater is a self-contained, free standing air heating appliance intended for installation in the space being provided and not intended for duct connection. Some of the safety-related information about space heaters includes:

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates more than 25,000 residential fires each year related to space heaters.
• More than 300 persons die in these fires.
• An estimated 6,000 persons receive hospital emergency room care for burns each year.

If you will be using a space heater, here are some tips to think about:

• When selecting a space heater, look for one that has been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters. Some heaters have very hot surfaces.
• Keep doors open to the rest of the house if you are using an unvented fuel-burning space heater. This helps to prevent pollutant build-up and promotes proper combustion. Even vented heaters require ventilation for proper combustion.
• Never leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or leave the area.
• Never use or store flammable liquids (such as gasoline) around a space heater.
• Place heaters at least three feet away from objects such as bedding, furniture and drapes. Never use heaters to dry clothes or shoes.

For more information on steps homeowners can take to improve the efficiency of their homes, contact your local public power utility, or visit the ENERGY STAR® Home Advisor. Lots of useful energy efficiency information is also available at NPPD and SPD's websites.