A space heater is an excellent alternative to expensive and heavy-load heating systems. These heating devices are portable, easy to use, inexpensive and economical in adding to the power bills. Most households use space heaters to heat up small to medium-sized rooms. People also use these heaters to warm up a particular space, which is most used in the house.
Space heaters introduce a lot of convenience in chilly weather conditions. However, these heating devices bring a lot of risks, too.
One of the biggest fears is leaving the space heater unattended or placing them close to flammable objects, as even the slightest negligence can lead to various fire accidents.
The newly introduced models are manufactured with various safety features that claim to keep you and your house safe. However, looking at the records, you should never trust a heating system on its own. Therefore, in this write-up, we will discuss everything you need to know about how far a space heater should be. Keep reading to stay informed.
How Far Away Should a Space Heater Be?
You should place the space heaters at a distance of at least 3-feet away from other flammable objects.
Usually, modern space heaters are constructed with various safety features like;
- Tip-over switch that shuts down the device if it is not in an upright position.
- Overheat protection that automatically shuts down the device when it reaches beyond the maximum temperature.
- An in-built thermostat monitors the temperature indoors to let the device turn on and off automatically.
- Plastic-face prevents the grille from heating to the level of burning skin, etc.
These safety features incorporated in the design ensure protection to a certain extent. However, you should still follow some practices to prevent the risk of fire damage. Most importantly, keeping the space heater at the right distance is mandatory.
As advertised often, you should always follow the 3-feet distance rule while using a space heater in any part of your home. Furthermore, ensure placing this portable heating device in a spot that is not cluttered so that you can easily minimize the risk of fire damage.
One of the most common reasons for fires caused due to space heaters is placing them too close to flammable objects, like curtains, rugs, paper magazines, or other paper items, furniture, etc. Therefore, the right placement of a space heater is of utmost importance.
Usually, keeping a 3-feet distance between the heating unit and the other flammable objects is enough. However, you should always follow the instructions mentioned in the user manual as they are meant to keep you safe and protected depending on the type of heater you purchase.
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Concluding Thoughts
For optimum efficiency and enhanced safety, you should always place the space heater on a flat surface, away from the mess. When you place your heaters on uneven surfaces, they are more likely to fall, leading to fire hazards.
Similarly, keeping them close to objects that can easily catch fire makes the situation equally dangerous. Using a space heater can make you feel toasty and comfortable, but even the slightest negligence can put you in danger of life.