During the winter, you may use a space heater to supplement your home’s HVAC system and keep you warm. A space heater provides a versatile way to direct heat to specific areas of your home, but you must follow safety guidelines.
Why homeowners use space heaters in the winter
Sometimes we have rooms in our house that are harder to heat than others. In older homes, poor insulation and drafty windows may necessitate adding a space heater.
Today’s space heaters are far safer than older versions, with no exposed heating coils and a feature that automatically turns off the heater if it is tipped over or lifted off the floor.
Choosing the right-sized space heater for your room
Size is not indicative of heating prowess. Some larger space heaters may be less powerful than smaller ones. A better indicator is the wattage-to-space ratio. Look for a heater rated at 10 watts per square foot of heated space. So, for example, to heat a 150-square-foot space, purchase a 1,500-watt heater.
Space heater safety tips to prevent house fires
Statistics show that the vast majority of home fires and 88% of home fire deaths are caused by mishaps involving home heating equipment.
Therefore, for the safe operation of your space heater:
- Place it 3 feet away from any combustible source of fire fuel, such as curtains, upholstered furniture, or any bed.
- Purchase newer-model space heaters with tip-over shutoff and a fan that blows heat, rather than older models without these features. Never use a model with exposed heating coils.
- Do not plug a space heater into an extension cord. It should be plugged directly into the wall receptacle.
- Do not leave space heaters unattended. Always be present when a space heater is in use in your home.
Related – Home Heating Systems: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know
