How to Heat Your House Without Accidentally Burning It Down

If you are one of those dandies who has central heating in the house, this article does not apply to you, but if you live in a place with suboptimal heating – perhaps because you live in a warmer climate and you only need heat for a couple of nights a year – there are ways to keep your crib warm this winter (without accidentally burning it).

How to use the heater as safely as possible

If you only heat one or two rooms in your home, chances are you will be using a space heater. Whether it’s electric fan heaters, infrared heaters, ceramic heaters, infrared heaters, or oil heaters, more than half of Americans have used portable heaters to combat the winter chill. They are cheap and easy to use, but they are also dangerous. According to the US Department of Energy, portable heaters cause about 25,000 fires in the United States each year, resulting in about 300 deaths and about 6,000 emergency room visits.

If you’re using a small heater this winter, please take the following tips seriously so you don’t burn down your house, get carbon monoxide poisoning, or electrocute yourself:

  • Make sure your smoke detectors are working, charged, and test for carbon monoxide.
  • Make sure any heater you use has an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) marking. This means that it complies with current safety standards.
  • Use a heater that is the right size for the room you are trying to heat.
  • Keep children and pets away from heaters.
  • Place the heater on a level, flat, stable, non-combustible surface such as a tiled floor.
  • Make sure there is at least three feet between the heater and anything even remotely flammable. This includes rugs and rugs, linens, drapes and wall hangings.
  • Your heater should have a feature that automatically turns it off if it tilts, but check to be sure.
  • Do not use non-ventilated heaters such as kerosene heaters inside your home. This is how you get carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • If possible, plug the heater directly into an outlet. If you must use an extension cord (and you shouldn’t, if at all possible), make sure it’s a strong 14-gauge cord or larger.
  • Turn off the heater whenever you leave the room.
  • It is possible to die from hyperthermia (overheating) caused by heaters, so never leave children, people with limited motor or sensory impairments, or the elderly alone in a room with heaters.
  • Never – and I can’t stress this enough – use a barbecue, oven, or any other kitchen appliance to heat your home. However, you can bake the cake in the oven. It will warm the kitchen, but I hope you don’t forget to turn it off. As a bonus, you will receive a cake.

How to use the fireplace as safely as possible

Fireplaces, in general, cause fewer fires each year than heaters, but they can still be dangerous. Here’s how to use them safely:

  • Never leave a fire in a fireplace unattended.
  • Make sure you open the chimney before starting the fire.
  • Make sure all the coals in the fireplace are turned off before going to bed.
  • Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep the embers in the fireplace.
  • All stoves, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves are checked annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.

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