As the chill of late fall and winter sets in, it can be tempting to turn your home into a warm oasis by flipping on the space heater. While that may seem like a relatively easy and safe thing to do, space heaters can quickly turn from a helpful tool into a dangerous object. Before you purchase a new space heater or plug yours in for the season, take a read through our tips below to ensure you stay safe (and warm) all season long!
Pick a Safe Space for your Space Heater
Portable space heaters are a great way to heat up a room quickly. While they’re able to give off warm, comfortable air, ensuring it is in a safe spot is key. Make sure that your space heater is away from any furniture or walls, so it is able to “breathe”.
Stable Ground
Do not place your space heater on a surface where it can fall or be easily knocked over. While most modern space heaters are fitted with a safety switch to turn off the heat source when not on a flat surface, many heaters will continue running after being knocked down. This means any flammable materials (carpeting, curtains, sheets, etc) could become extremely hot and possibly catch on fire.
Do Not Leave your Space Heater Unattended
Whether you’re going to sleep or leaving for the day, do not leave your space heater unattended while it is running. It may be tempting to come home to a warm house, but accidents can happen quickly since most space heaters cannot regulate temperature for long periods of time. Not only that but leaving your space heater on for long periods of time will increase your energy costs, and nobody wants that!
Use Certified Space Heaters
If your space heater has been around for a decade or so, it’s probably falling behind in safety measures. Ensure your space heaters are certified by an organization such as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) which ensures products meet certain safety regulations for use in Canada. Not only this but look for units that have enhanced safety features such as auto shut-off and an enclosed radiant.
Keeping you, your home, family, and business safe is top of mind for us at Cayuga Mutual. We want you to be safe in all that you do, including staying cozy at home! For additional fire safety tips, check out our Fire Safety blog, or give your Cayuga Agent a call. We’d be happy to share our knowledge with you and connect you to some local fire safety programs.
