Improving Your Home's EfficiencyImproving Your Home's Efficiency

Portable heaters are used for a variety of reasons. It could be a way to reduce utility costs by heating the spaces in the home that are used most or it could be due to inadequate heating of some areas of the house. No matter what the reason, safety measures should always be taken anytime a portable heater is being used in your home. Here, you will find some safety tips to follow to reduce the chances of burns and fires while portable heaters are in use.

Create a Kid- and Pet-Free Zone

Kids and pets are active creatures. Oftentimes, their curiosity or overenergetic behavior can get them in all kinds of trouble. When it comes to keeping your kids, pets and home safe while using a portable heater, you must create a 3-foot area around the heater in which the kids and pets cannot access.

Purchase a portable play-yard panel system. The panels interlock with one another and can be shaped and sized to fit any area around the heater. Then, when the heater is no longer in use, the panels can be taken down, folded up and set aside for the next use.

Never Use Extension Cords or Multi-Plugs

Electric portable heaters should never be plugged into extension cords or multi-outlet plugs. To reduce the chances of fires igniting due to electrical issues, always plug the heater directly into an outlet in your wall or floor.

Note: Take the time to inspect the outlet, plug and cord once each week. You never know when damage can occur and you need to be sure that the outlet hasn't become charred or the cord hasn't been damaged. If you notice damage to the plug, outlet or cord, stop use immediately and have your outlet and the heater inspected for damage to find out if the problem was the result of an electrical problem or an element within the heater.

Keep the Heater away from Flammable Materials

Don't place the heater on a carpeted surface near furniture or drapery, and always keep toys and other flammable materials away from the heater. If you need to use the heater in a carpeted room, purchase a sheet of plywood, cut it to provide the heater a platform that is 3 feet larger than the unit and set the heater on top of it. This will protect the carpeting from the heat being released from the heater.

Talk with your HVAC professional to find ways to eliminate the need for the use of your portable heaters. Your heating system may be outdated and an updated system could eliminate the need for your portable heater altogether. Contact a local HVAC company like Bill's Heating & Air Conditioning for more information.