Can Space Heaters Cause Fire? + Safety Tips

One of the most cost-effective ways to keep your home or office warm during cold or winter days is the use of Space Heaters which can warm up specific and strategic areas in the home or office.

While Space heaters are very efficient in the office and your home in keeping it warm, it comes with the problem of fire outbreaks if not managed properly and users do not adhere to safety tips from manufacturers and relevant authorities.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has reported that home heating is one of the major electric devices that cause fire outbreaks which lead to hundreds of deaths and thousands of burns.

Another report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) puts the figure of accidents caused by heaters in a year at an alarming 21,800.

In this article, you’re going to learn the causes of fire outbreaks by space heaters, the safest space heaters out there, and preventive measures to curb fire outbreaks during use.

Read on to find out how

What Type of Space Heaters Cause Fire Accidents The Most?

Some electric space heaters are more prone to cause fire outbreaks than the other types. Oil-filled Heaters, a type of convection space heater, are more prone to fire outbreaks than the rest, though more effective than others.

Oil-filled convection heaters get hot on all sides during use. It can cause fire when close to combustible and flammable materials.

Oil-filled or convector space heaters may not be the best choice if you’re looking for something safe and not prone to fires. Consider getting other types of space heaters, like fan space heaters or combination or hybrid space heaters.

How Can Space Heaters Cause Fire?

Despite their size, space heaters can pose a very high risk of causing fire outbreaks when not managed properly.

There are various ways in which space heaters can cause a fire – Let’s look at some of them;

1. Over Heating

This is the most common way space heaters cause fire accidents at homes and offices since it heats, there is every tendency that it will overheat and may cause a fire.

2. Tipping over

When space heaters warm spaces, it overheats, and when it does, they may tip over, which may result in fire outbreaks.

3. Proximity to Flammable Materials

When you place space heaters close to flammable materials such as curtains, clothing materials, and furniture, it can cause fire when there’s a tip-over.

4. Overloading of Circuit

Space heaters use a lot of energy, which may cause fires due to circuit overload. When this occurs and you’re using a power strip without a surge protector, they will be a power strip, and this usually results in fire.

Avoid or limit the number of electrical appliances in use when your space heater is plugged into power, as this is one of the major reasons circuits overload and subsequently get burnt and result in fire.

What to look out for before buying an electric space heater

Before buying or investing in a space heater, ensure to look out for these three features as these features reduce the chances of having a fire accident to almost zero.

• Tip-over test: Check and ensure it comes with a tip-over function to help shut down the device when it falls or tip-over.
• Overheating pass: The space heater should not overheat, the manufacturer and relevant authorities should give it an overheating pass.
• Thermostat: Ensure the space heater comes with a thermostat to help control and regulate the device when it overheats or tip-over. The thermostat will help shut down the space heater if overheating or tip-over occurs.

Electric Space Heater Safety Tips

Safety should be of utmost priority when you use a space heater. Following and adhering to safety rules and tips will reduce the chances of having a fire accident to almost zero.

Here are some safety tips to adopt to prevent fire outbreaks during use;

1. Avoid using Power Strips: Always plug space heaters directly into wall sockets or power sources. Avoid using power strips as they may get burnt due to overloading or overheating and cause a fire. If you must use a power strip, ensure it is recommended by the manufacturer or relevant authorities else don’t use one.
2. Keep distance between a space heater and flammable materials: Always maintain enough distance of at least 2-4 feet in between. This way, when there is an outbreak of fire, you can handle it before it gets to the flammable materials.
3. Install smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinkler systems: Smoke detectors will detect when there is smoke and an alarm will be raised or the sprinkler system will turn on automatically when there is fire. Ensure to have one or two of the three installed to be on the safer side, as you can’t be too careful.
4. Ensure the automatic shutdown function is activated always; this would ensure the space heater turns off if it overheats or when there is a power strip before it results in a fire accident that may lead to loss of lives and property.
5. Keep space heaters away from flammable materials and water: Always keep flammable materials at least 4 feet away from space heaters during use. Also, don’t place space heaters close to water like bathrooms or kitchens as electrical appliances and water doesn’t go together with fire. Water may increase the effect instead of cushioning it.
6. Always turn off space heaters when not in use. Unplug it from the power source to avoid currents passing through that may cause a fire if there’s a power strip. Never leave the space heater on when sleeping, turn it off properly to be on the safer side.
7. Ensure the cord of your space heater is sturdy when buying, as a less sturdy cord could get burnt easily when the space heater overheats, resulting in fire outbreaks. Also, check the space heater continuously to see if it overheats.

Conclusion

Electric space heaters can be as dangerous and cause harm as it is good if proper care, maintenance, and preventive measures are taken to avoid fire outbreaks.

Ensure to plug your space heater directly into wall outlets instead of power strips and avoid keeping it close to the water and off the reach of children and pets. Always ensure to be close during use and don’t sleep without turning it off.

When there is an outbreak, use the proper fire extinguishers to put out the fire to avoid it spreading. When you can’t put out the fire, remove every flammable material and object from its path and wait for qualified firefighters to come to your rescue.