As historic winter weather brings frigid temperatures to much of the U.S., many people will use space heaters to cut the chill – and increase the risk of a house or apartment fire.
Small space heaters are typically less expensive than turning up the thermostat in the house, and they allow you to target specific rooms instead of heating your entire house. And according to Consumer Reports, operating a space heater costs just about $2 for an eight-hour day. small outdoor heater for greenhouse
But with that extra warmth for your toes, space heaters do come with dangers. Homeowners have been displaced recently in Virginia and Oklahoma because of space heater fires.
There has also been a large recall on space heaters sold on Amazon because of the possibility of electrical shocks resulting in a fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced last week.
Yes. Heating equipment is the primary cause of most residential fires. More than 65,000 house fires a year are caused by electrical heating equipment, resulting in deaths, injuries and damaged property, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. When those fires occur most frequently:
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National Fire Protection Association data shows that the risk of a house fire increases with space heaters, chimney fires, candles and Christmas trees – all of which are most frequently in use in December, January and February.
More:How to stay safe as dangerous cold grips much of the country
A space heater should never be left unattended, experts say. It should be turned off before leaving a room or going to sleep. Additionally, pets or children should not play near a heater, the Electrical Safety Foundation International said.
The Consumer Reports highlights these safety features when considering purchasing a portable space heater:
CONTRIBUTING Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK and George Petras, USA TODAY
farm fuel heater SOURCE Electrical Safety Foundation International, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Consumer Reports, National Fire Protection Association and USA TODAY research