Space heaters present certain dangers. The National Fire Protection Association found that space heaters account for 33 percent of home heating fires and 81 percent of home heating fire deaths.
How can you safely use a space heater?
Here are six tips:
- Check space heaters for damage.
- Keep space heaters three feet away from flammable objects (like blankets, clothing, paper)
- Keep space heaters out of high traffic areas.
- Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets.
- Always remember to turn off space heaters.
- Don't use a space heater to warm your entire home.
Listen in as Molly Hall, Executive Director of the award-winning Energy Education Council (EEC), discusses the best applications for space heaters and how to use them safely.
Molly Hall is executive director of the award-winning Energy Education Council (EEC), a national nonprofit whose members include more than 500 utility members committed to enhancing awareness of vital energy issues. Molly’s communications background includes 14 years as a broadcast news journalist and being spokesperson for a large electric and natural gas utility. While in that position, she was a leader on the task force that created EEC’s Safe Electricity program. Molly became executive director of the Council in 2002.