Thursday, January 8, 2015

What You Need to Know About Space Heaters

Cold weather means a quest to find warmth, and for many people this winter, that means a space heater.



"A space heater is a relatively efficient way to heat small rooms or large rooms," said Josh Leppek, General Manager of a Lansing Menards. "It's a supplementary heat, as opposed to running your furnace or pellet stove, wood stove."



And walking through the aisles of Menards, it's easy to believe there is a space heater for everyone. They come in all shapes, sizes and strengths.



The heaters can warm an area ranging from a small office to the first floor of a home, Leppek said. The trick can be finding the right heater for you.



"First we would ask what size of area they're looking to heat and then go from there," said Leppek. "A lot of the information is on the box and we can always help qualify people from there."



Most modern heaters have a feature where they automatically turn off when tipped over.



But space heaters, if used incorrectly, can be dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Public Safety Commission, space heaters cause 25,000 fires a year, resulting in 6,000 injuries and 300 deaths.



"You've gotta make sure you have the right one for your house," said Brian Ball, chief of the Delhi Twp. Fire Department. "Bigger isn't always better. You want one that is going to heat your house but let's not go overboard."



Ball says the "lion's share" of fires in Delhi are caused by the use -- or misuse -- of space heaters.



He says it's important to turn off your space heater when you leave or before you go to bed. And when the heater is on, it's important to leave space between it and any other objects in the room.



"We've gotta make sure we have a three-foot area around and that is not only for the combustible stuff, but also a safety area for kids," said Ball. "We don't want kids to get too close and get burned by a space heater either."



Here are some other tips from local fire departments:



Plug your heater directly into an outlet, not into an extension cord



Look for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.



Have your chimney cleaned by a licensed, professional chimney sweep



Keep a safety screen on your fireplace at all times



Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors



Have a safety escape plan



Source: http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Space-Heaters-287780181.html



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