Don't Let Your Space Heater Burn Your House Down

Portable space heaters cause about 1,600 house fires every year, killing around 70 people. So, that little heater keeping your feet warm could literally kill you.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission just released these numbers, and they're from 2019 to 2021. Nearly half of all home heating fires happen in December, January, and February were because people do stuff like putting heaters right next to their curtains.

The Basics You're Probably Ignoring

Put it on the floor. Not on a table, not on a chair - only on the floor. These things are designed to sit on hard, level surfaces.

Keep everything three feet away from it. Kids, pets, curtains, that pile of laundry you've been meaning to fold. Three feet minimum. Consumer Reports' Chris Regan says taller heaters might need even more space.

Turn it off when you leave every single time - no exceptions. "No space heater should ever be left unattended," Regan says. Unplug it too. Don’t just turn it off - actually unplug it.

Don't use extension cords with it. Plug it directly into the wall outlet. And don't plug anything else into that same wall outlet. That's how you get overheating and fires.

What Consumer Reports Actually Tests

They do three main tests to see if your heater's going to burn your house down. First, they tip it over. Good heaters shut off in less than 10 seconds. Many shut off instantly. Then they wrap it in fabric to make it overheat. The best ones shut off in under 2 minutes without burning the fabric.

Finally, they drape cloth over part of it. Again, good ones either shut off fast or run for 30 minutes without scorching anything.

The last heater to completely fail their tests was the Optimus H-5210 back in 2012. It literally set their test fabric on fire. The CPSC recalled it.

Safety Features That Actually Matter

Make sure it has a certification label - UL, ETL, or CSA. Recently, half a million Govee heaters got recalled because they didn't meet safety standards. Seven fires and someone actually got burned.

It needs an automatic shutoff for overheating – this is non-negotiable. Also, it needs a tip-over switch that kills it if it falls over.

If you're using it somewhere damp (which the CPSC says you shouldn't), look for one with an ALCI plug (those fat plugs like the ones on hair dryers.) Only five out of 100+ models Consumer Reports tested have them though.

CPSC spokesperson Pamela Springs says don't use portable electric heaters in bathrooms unless they're specifically made for it. "The safety standard for portable heaters, ANSI/UL 1278, has tests for heaters intended to be used in bathrooms," she says. Most aren't.

Stuff You're Doing Wrong

Please, don’t ever do any of the following:

·         Using it in your garage near paint cans and gas.

·         Covering the cord with a rug because it looks ugly. That causes overheating.

·         Putting it in your kid's room. Just don't.

·         Keeping the same heater for years without checking it. Look for brown marks or melted plastic. If you see either, throw it out.

The Workshop and Garage Problem:

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers specifically says don't use heaters near flammable paints, gas cans, or matches. But people do it anyway because garages are cold and people are stubborn.

Check Your Smoke Alarms While You're At It

Have working smoke alarms on every level and in every bedroom. Test them monthly. This is basic stuff, but most people don't do it.

The Bottom Line

Space heaters are convenient but they're also one of the most dangerous appliances in your house. Nearly half of home heating fires happen in winter because people get careless. Follow the three-foot rule. Turn it off when you leave. Don't use extension cords. Don't put it in the bathroom. Don't leave it running all night.

Consumer Reports tests over 100 models and most are reasonably safe if you're not thoughtless about it. But that's a big “if.” Seventy people die on average every year because they thought the rules didn't apply to them.

Your space heater doesn't care that you're "just running to the store for five minutes." It doesn't care that you've "been using it this way for years with no problems." Physics doesn't make exceptions.

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