Heating safety during the winter months is crucial. When it gets cold outside it is only natural for people to want to heat up their homes. That is typically done through the use of furnaces, space heaters, and other heating sources. According to the American Red Cross, they respond to nearly 70,000 disasters each year, yet people fail to realize that a large percentage of those that are home fires.
They further inform readers that “heating sources are the second leading cause of home fire deaths, and fatal home fires increase during the winter months.” Not only do these fires result in deaths, but also thousands of injuries and millions of dollars in property damage.
According to an expert in Your Home article, there are several common mistakes that people make when it comes to heating their home:
Neglecting Annual Furnace Maintenance. Many people forget or simply do not schedule their annual furnace tuneup appointment. These appointments are necessary because it allows your furnace to run cleanly and reliably. It also gives technicians the chance to correct minor glitches before they turn into more severe issues.
Using space heaters instead of central heat. The purpose of space heaters is to create additional heat in areas where you feel is necessary-not to get rid of central heat altogether. Central heat is less expensive and much safer anyway.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms. It is often believed that when a room is not being used then it is a good idea to close the vents, this is actually the exact opposite of what you should do. Closing the air vents will not send more heat into other rooms, instead, it will just create air flow resistance problems and cause an imbalance in your HVAC system.
While heating sources are convenient and quite necessary to stay warm during the winter season, many people fail to acknowledge the proper safety guidelines they should be following when these items are in use. There is one additional potential safety hazards that space heaters create aside from fires and that is electrical shocks. These two hazards can occur when a heater is placed close to something that is combustible or is plugged into an electrical socket incorrectly. The Electrical Safety Foundation International shares a few quick tips when using heating sources to be sure you are keeping your home safe and warm during the winter season:
1.Inspect heaters for cracks, broken plugs or loose connections before use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use.
2.Never leave a heater unattended. Turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep.
3.Proper placement of space heaters is critical. The heater must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing, and rugs.
4.Locate space heaters out of high traffic areas and doorways where they may pose a tripping hazard.
5.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.
6.Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture, or carpet, which can overheat and start a fire.
Shelby Pauling is an Economics major, Mathematics minor student at Spelman College from Chicago, Illinois. When Shelby is not studying, she ignites her creative side by researching upcoming health and beauty trends. Shelby’s understanding for the importance of health literacy in the black community led her to join Spelman College’s NAACP Chapter and the Health Careers Club, where she indulges in conversations and community service activities focused on stimulating dialogue amongst her peers and local Atlanta residents.
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