If you’re a person who is naturally cold most of the time, a personal electric heater might be the perfect solution. These heaters are easy to use and generate a lot more heat than many people realize, but the one question most people tend to ask about them is, are portable heaters safe? Let’s face it, everyone has heard stories about space heaters causing fires in a home or an office, and this is naturally cause for concern. But once you read up on the current research, and as long as you use the heaters correctly, you’ll quickly learn that this is not something you need to spend a lot of time worrying about.
Safer Than You Think
Today’s portable heaters designed for individual use are safely made, and the current regulations regarding these devices are very strict. This means that if you purchase a new portable heater from a reputable store or company, the chances are extremely slim that anything will ever go wrong. Naturally, you’ll need to heed any advice they offer regarding how to use the heater and what to avoid when using one, but as long as you’re doing that, you’ll be completely safe every time you use your personal heater.
Many of the most popular personal heaters used today even have automatic shut-off valves and timers, including newer heaters such as HeatCore and others. In fact, many of them will shut off automatically whenever they topple over or when they are not placed on a flat surface, and this can bring great peace of mind to both homeowners and business owners alike. Because the heaters are compact and portable and can therefore be taken with you wherever you go, many people take them to work when they work somewhere that is a little cooler than they like.
Things You Can Do to Keep Your Heater Safe
What can you do to increase the odds that you’ll be safe the entire time you’re using your personal heating device? Common sense is crucial, of course, but there are other practical steps you can take to make sure you’re as safe as possible every time you use a personal space heater. These include:
- Keep your heater a minimum of three feet away from anything flammable, and this includes people.
- Always place the heater on a surface that is both solid and flat.
- Plug the heater directly into an electrical outlet – in other words, no extension cords!
- Purchase a heater that shuts itself off automatically when it topples over.
- Make sure the heater has the seal of a qualified and reputable testing laboratory.
Although fires and deaths from personal heating devices still occur, most of the time the incident happens because of something that was done incorrectly, such as placing the device too close to something flammable or buying the wrong heater in the first place. The fact is that today’s fire safe portable heaters are extremely safe and reliable, and you can count on them for many years of dependable and efficient results.
Other Important Considerations
There are also different types of personal electric heaters, and these include radiators that are usually filled with either oil or water, heaters that use a ceramic heating device to produce the heat, heaters that rely on a fan to force the warm air out into the open, and infrared heaters, which rely on infrared bulbs to create the heat. Each of these types has advantages and disadvantages, but again, if you use them correctly, they should not give you any problems throughout their lifespan.
So if you’ve ever wondered, how safe are portable electric heaters, just know that they are now safer than they’ve ever been before, especially if you read the directions that come with the heater and never stray from any tips and suggestions they’ve given you. Most of these devices will heat only a small area, but since most people buy them to provide heat for themselves and no one else – hence, their name as personal heaters – this is more than acceptable. Most heaters also have overheat protection, a thermostat, and tell you to keep children away from them, all of which are meant to keep you even safer in the end.
Should You Research the Heaters First?
Although portable space heaters are generally safe, it is never a bad idea to research the heater you’re considering buying. Once you’ve decided on the type of heater you want, you can get a lot of information online, including reviews from real-life customers, which is invaluable. Websites such as Inc500conference.com do a great job of reviewing products such as personal heating devices, so you truly have a lot of options when you decide to do your due diligence before making a final decision.
Finally, if you intend to use your personal heater somewhere other than your home, you’ll need to check to see if these facilities have any special regulations or rules that you need to follow. Some facilities will have even more requirements than the companies that make the heating device, giving you an extra measure of security and safety. After all, you cannot be too careful when it comes to personal heaters, so the more you find out about these amazing devices, the better off you’ll be each time you use yours.
Conclusion
Are portable heaters dangerous? Not if you use them correctly, and not if you buy yours from a reputable dealer or store. Buying one online is never a problem as long as you follow the same suggestions mentioned previously. In fact, just like most other home products, there are do’s and don’ts associated with portable electrical heaters, and they are usually very simple to follow. This means you have no excuse not to be safe with your personal heating device because all you have to do is use a little common sense and follow the basic rules that are included with the product.
Personal heaters can be true miracle-workers if you are usually a little more cold-natured than most other people. The fact that they are inexpensive helps as well, because no one wants to spend a fortune on a compact space heater, especially when they don’t have to.