Space heaters can make an overly chilly room into a warm and comfortable place for your family enjoy. It is very important to be careful about how you use your space heater. It is possible for a space heater to start a fire. State Farm has some space heater safety tips that you can use to keep your family safe.
People purchase a space heater for two reasons. They want to make a room in their home a bit warmer, and they want to cut down on their heating bill. It is possible to warm up a room with the use of a space heater instead of by turning on your furnace.
Unfortunately, it is also possible for a space heater to start a fire. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, space heaters cause more than 25,000 residential fires every year. The fires result in over 300 deaths, and in about 6,000 people requiring a trip to the emergency room for burn injuries that come from touching the hot surfaces of space heaters.
State Farm has some space heater safety tips for you. Following their advice can help prevent fires and injuries caused by space heaters. After a fire has happened, people file claims to their homeowners insurance policy. It is best for all to avoid the problem that would result in expensive claims.
I suggest you read over the full list from State Farm about space heater safety. I will go over just a couple of their tips in this blog.
Get a Fire Alarm.
It is important that the room you intend to run a space heater in has a fire alarm installed within it. That way, if the space heater causes a fire, you and your family will be warned of it right away. State Farm suggests that you also install a carbon monoxide alarm if you are going to operate a space heater that is powered by gas.
Don’t Leave it Unattended.
Do not run a space heater in a room that is unoccupied. State Farm suggests that you always turn off a space heater before you leave the room and before you go to bed. This is especially important if you have small children, or pets, who do not understand why they shouldn’t touch the space heater. It is also a good idea to unplug a space heater that is not currently in use, as an extra precaution.
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