As colder weather begins to settle please take a moment to
review our Do’s and Don’ts of Space Heater Safety.  All of us at Action Rentals want you and your family to stay
safe and warm this winter. 

Do’s:

 

–       Use
a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and has been
certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.  Your heater should have the most
up-to-date safety features.  Older
space heaters may not meet newer safety standards and that is when accidents
happen. 

–       Always
review the manual prior to use and follow the manufacturer’s directions for
proper use.

–       Place
the heater on a level, hard, nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile
floor.

–       Keep
the space heater accessible – do not store anything within three feet of the
unit.  Keep away from bedding,
drapes, and furniture and out of foot traffic path.

–       Keep
children and pets away from space heaters.

–       Your
space heater must be plugged directly into an outlet.  Do not use an extension cord or a multi-outlet strip/surge
protector.  This can start a fire
with a high voltage appliance.  The
unit must ground with a three-pronged plug.

–       Turn
the heater off when you leave the area or home.

–       Be
sure to place smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside of sleeping
areas and inside each bedroom. Guard against carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings as
well by installing carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Make sure that your
batteries in all alarms are fresh and working.

 

Don’ts:

 

–       Never
leave a space heater on when you go to sleep.

–       Do
not place a space heater close to any sleeping person.

–       Do
not place your electric space heater near a bathroom or kitchen sink area due
to the risk of electric shock

–       Never
use gasoline in a kerosene space heater, as even a small amount of gasoline
mixed with kerosene can start a fire.

–       Don’t
use portable propane space heaters indoors or in a confined space unless they
are specifically designed for indoor use.

–       Do
not use a combustion-fuel heater (gas, propane, etc.) that vents exhaust into
the room. They are referred to as unvented space heaters and can cause carbon
monoxide to be released. Although an oxygen depletion alarm is standard with
most of these heaters, these are not the same as carbon monoxide alarms.
“Room-vented” space heaters that are wall-mounted and connected to gas lines
are also “unvented” space heaters.

Remember these tips and stay safe.  If ever in doubt about equipment call a professionalprofessional!