Never Use a Space Heater in These 9 Danger Zones

Did you know that there are problems with the heater in the house are the second largest cause of fires in residential buildings in the United States? Today’s portable space heaters help easy to control the temperaturethey are some of the worst culprits. When these handy heaters are placed in the wrong places or placed against furniture, they can quickly start a chain reaction that ends in a house fire.

Don’t get us wrong – a space heater with careful heating in cold rooms can help you save money — but everyone should watch out for human error. Keep your space heaters safe this winter by avoiding all of these (literally) hot spots.

Read more: The best space heaters

1. On a carpet, rug or flammable surface

Space heaters cannot sit on any surface that can easily catch fire or ignite. This means you can never put it on a carpet or rug. You should also avoid using them on more delicate hardwoods or fusible vinyl, especially for long periods of time.

What if you only have carpet in a cold room? You can look for a ceramic or other heat resistant pad to place under the heater. It must be larger than the heater itself by about 3 inches on each side.

2. Close to walls and furniture

Your space heater needs a safety zone: Keep it at least 3 meters away from walls or furniture to avoid the risk of burns. Unfortunately, this also means that under your desk or dining room table is not allowed. Try pointing space heaters toward these areas instead of placing space heaters directly under them.

3. Near blankets, pillows or curtains

Space heaters become even more of a fire risk if someone accidentally puts a blanket or pillow on top of them – and in winter this can easily happen. The same applies if the heater is pushed against any hanging curtains. Always keep all these flammable items at least 3 meters away from the heater.

4. Anywhere easily accessible to pets or small children

Space heaters can easily burn the unwary, and while many newer models have an automatic shut-off if tipped over, a lit space heater can still be a serious fire hazard. Also, pets and children may not pay attention to where they put toys or blankets, which can create additional risks.

Use space heaters in places where very small children are and larger pets they cannot access or rarely go. When they pay attention, teach them to give the heater a wide position.

5. Bathrooms and laundry rooms

Heaters play loosely around water, which can affect performance and greatly increase the risk of electric shock. They are also more prone to the risk of tipping over in these environments.

Unfortunately, bathrooms and laundry rooms often suffer from brrr temperatures if there is no heating. We suggest placing the heater outside these rooms for maximum effect and safety.

6. Included together with many other devices or lights

Space heaters are a big drain on amplifiers that use an electrical circuit. This is usually fine for newer 15 amp household outlets as modern space heaters are designed to work with those outlets. The circuit and switch that control that room/area have their limitations.

Running the heater along with a bunch of other appliances (kitchen appliances, large entertainment systems, etc.) can overload the system. At best, the switch flips and the power goes out. In the worst case, it overheats the wiring and causes an electrical fire.

Read more: 7 things you should never plug into an extension cord or power strip

This risk of overload is also more common in the colder months because the holidays often result in more light decorations being turned on, further increasing the load on the home circuit amplifier. You can help alleviate the problem by placing appliances on alternating schedules to reduce overall loads and monitor with smart plugs.

7. Plugged into an extension cord or power strip (or both)

Extension cords and power strips are not necessarily rated for the wattage needed by space heaters and can increase the risk of an electrical fire even if the outlet and switch can handle the heater. Plugging an extension cord into an outlet before connecting the heater only increases the danger.

If you really need a heater in a remote location, look for a model that comes with a wireless power cord. Some extension cords are designed to support higher amperage appliances, but you need to be very careful when connecting them to the heater – we’d rather you avoid this altogether.

8. Plugged into an old or non-GFCI outlet

A ground circuit breaker is a handy piece of technology that shuts down an outlet if there’s a problem with its electrical current, especially if it looks like it might complete a circuit elsewhere. It is a useful protection against shocks, overheating of the device and other problems. Always make sure your space heater is plugged into a GFCI outlet.

Likewise, avoid plugging the heater into a particularly old outlet or an outlet that has previously seen problems such as sudden outages. This increases the risk of wiring damage and resulting fires.

9. Near anyone with winter allergies

Winter allergies are often caused by dust, mites and particles that accumulate during indoor winter days. Those types of allergies don’t do too well if the device blows hot air around the room. This is especially true if the heater or room has not been cleaned recently and there is a lot of accumulated dust that can be spread around. So if someone has particularly sensitive allergies, try to avoid using heaters near them and see if you can find different ways to keep warm.

One last tip: Never use fuel heaters inside

Only use electric or air heaters inside. Never use heaters that require fuel such as kerosene, propane or other gas indoors – and that includes the garage.

Fuel will always create exhaust fumes, and those fumes need a dedicated exhaust vent (like a gas fireplace has). Without emitting smoke, these heaters will fill enclosed spaces with carbon monoxide, which could lead to carbon dioxide poisoning, which is the worst news. The exception is certain oil-filled heaters that don’t actually burn oil, but these are relatively rare.

Read more: The best smoke detectors

Remember, if you’re going out or going to bed, don’t forget to turn off your space heater – never leave it on and unattended in your home. For more tips on home safety, check out dangerous mistakes homeowners make during a forest firethe the best ways to deter burglars and absolute the worst spots to place a security camera.