ALABAMA, USA — As the temperatures outside go down, the dangers inside your home go up.
The National Fire Protection Association is urging folks to be extra careful when heating their homes.
If you’re going to be using a portable space heater, make sure you never leave it unattended and remember to turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Always keep the space heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can catch fire, and place it away from busy areas of your home like doorways.
With the risk of home fires spiking this time of year, everyone should have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxides detectors.
NFPA offers these tips and guidelines for safely heating your home during the winter months:
Heating equipment and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional
Keep anything that can burn at least three feet (one meter) away from all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters.
Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
Create a three-foot (one meter) “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container, which should be placed outside at least 10 feet away from your home.
All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company.
Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are located throughout the home; test them monthly to ensure that they’re working properly.
According to Electrical Safety Foundation International, heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States. The organization says more than 65,000 home fires are attributed to heating equipment each year.
ESFI suggests the following tips for safely using your space heater:
- Make sure your space heater has the label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.
- Before using any space heater, read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully.
- Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use the heater.
- Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you're leaving a room or going to sleep, and don't let pets or children play too close to a space heater.
- Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heat and should never be used to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes.
- Proper placement of space heaters is critical. Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs.
- Locate space heaters out of high traffic areas and doorways where they may pose a tripping hazard.
- Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
- Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture, or carpet, which can overheat and start a fire.