Electric Heater Safety Tips

When the cooler weather moves in, many people op for a space or compact heater to warm their spaces. Either at home or at the office, a compact electric heater is convenient and cost-effective, because it directs heat to a specific location. But it is also potentially hazardous if not used correctly.

In fact, between 1999 and 2002, electric heaters were responsible for an average 9,900 residential fires and 190 fatalities per year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). However, there are a few things you can do to keep you and your family safe;

• Be sure to place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor).

• Keep the electric heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture, and other flammable materials, and keeping children and pets away from space heaters.

• Be sure to turn off the heater when going to sleep or leaving the area or space you’re heating.

• Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory.

• Be sure to have a smoke alarm with fresh batteries on each level of the house, inside every bedroom, and outside the bedrooms in each sleeping area. In addition, have a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.

For more information on electrical safety, call Delta Electric at the location nearest you – or call 1-800-321-2752.