Space Heater Safety

Palestine Fire Department

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Space Heater Safety

Space Heater Safety Tips:

SPACE HEATERS ARE LEGAL AND WIDELY USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE HEAT SOURCE. THEY ARE DANGEROUS TO USE BECAUSE THEY CAN POSE CERTAIN HAZARDS. IF YOU HAVE A SPACE HEATER, OR ARE CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A SPACE HEATER, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INFORMATION VITAL TO YOUR SAFETY.

Always make sure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.

Never use fuel burning appliances without proper ventilation. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal, or propane, for example) produces deadly fumes.

Be sure your space heater is in good working condition. All space heaters need frequent checkups and cleaning. A dirty or neglected heater is a critical fire hazard.

Use only the proper fuel for each heater. Never introduce a fuel into a heating unit not designed for that unit.

Store kerosene, gasoline or other flammable liquids outside the home at all times.

Use an approved safety can for the storing of flammable liquids.

Maintain adequate clearance in all directions around space heaters. Give the heater adequate clearance - 3 feet is the minimum - from walls and combustibles, such as clothes, curtains, beds or other furniture.

Never leave children unsupervised in a room with a space heater.

Keep young children away from space heaters, particularly when they are wearing nightgowns which can be drawn into the heater by a draft and ignited.

If you use an electric heater, be sure your house wiring is adequate. Avoid overloading the circuit. Avoid using extention cords. Use an approved power strip with a built-in circuit breaker.

Never cover a heater's cord with carpeting or furniture. This could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.

Avoid using electric space heaters in the bathroom. Never touch an electric heater when you are wet.

When refueling a kerosene heater, avoid overfilling it. If cold kerosene is used, it will expand as it warms up inside your home and may cause burner flooding. This could cause flare ups.

Never fill your kerosene heater while it is burning.

Turn off your heater or turn it on low before going to bed.

Use only safety listed equipment. Space heaters should be labeled with U.L. or A.G.A certification. pace heaters should be labeled with U.L. or A.G.A certification.


	Palestine Fire Department Home Fire Safety · Bar-B-Q · Winter Fire Safety · Space Heater Safety · Home Fire Safety Checklist · Smoke Detectors · Fire Extinguishers · Carbon Monoxide · Fireworks Back to Fire Prevention Space Heater Safety Space Heater Safety Tips: SPACE HEATERS ARE LEGAL AND WIDELY USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE HEAT SOURCE. THEY ARE DANGEROUS TO USE BECAUSE THEY CAN POSE CERTAIN HAZARDS. IF YOU HAVE A SPACE HEATER, OR ARE CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A SPACE HEATER, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INFORMATION VITAL TO YOUR SAFETY. Always make sure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Never use fuel burning appliances without proper ventilation. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal, or propane, for example) produces deadly fumes. Be sure your space heater is in good working condition. All space heaters need frequent checkups and cleaning. A dirty or neglected heater is a critical fire hazard. Use only the proper fuel for each heater. Never introduce a fuel into a heating unit not designed for that unit. Store kerosene, gasoline or other flammable liquids outside the home at all times. Use an approved safety can for the storing of flammable liquids. Maintain adequate clearance in all directions around space heaters. Give the heater adequate clearance - 3 feet is the minimum - from walls and combustibles, such as clothes, curtains, beds or other furniture. Never leave children unsupervised in a room with a space heater. Keep young children away from space heaters, particularly when they are wearing nightgowns which can be drawn into the heater by a draft and ignited. If you use an electric heater, be sure your house wiring is adequate. Avoid overloading the circuit. Avoid using extention cords. Use an approved power strip with a built-in circuit breaker. Never cover a heater's cord with carpeting or furniture. This could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire. Avoid using electric space heaters in the bathroom. Never touch an electric heater when you are wet. When refueling a kerosene heater, avoid overfilling it. If cold kerosene is used, it will expand as it warms up inside your home and may cause burner flooding. This could cause flare ups. Never fill your kerosene heater while it is burning. Turn off your heater or turn it on low before going to bed. Use only safety listed equipment. Space heaters should be labeled with U.L. or A.G.A certification. pace heaters should be labeled with U.L. or A.G.A certification.