We have decided to post again, in light of the upcoming weather, our blog about Heater Safety. With the recent quick drop in temperatures we want everyone to think of the following safety tips when operating heaters.
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.