Stay Warm (and Safe) with Space Heaters

Portable space heaters can be an effective way to provide supplemental heat in small areas of your home during the heating season. To ensure that your family stays safe while keeping warm, follow these simple tips:

• When purchasing a new space heater, choose one that is certified by a national testing laboratory.
• Place the heater on a level, hard, nonflammable surface, never on a rug.
• Keep small children away from space heaters.
• Make sure space heaters are at least three feet away from bedding and drapes.
• Avoid running the power cord under rugs. Placing items on top of the cord could cause the cord to overheat and cause a fire.
• Do not use an extension cord unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Never leave a space heater unattended. Make sure to turn it off before you go to sleep or leave the room.

Other Winter Energy Tips:

• Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or as needed.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed. Make sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Check your ducts for air leaks. First look for sections that should be joined but have separated and then look for obvious holes.
• Close your fireplace damper unless a fire is going. An open damper is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter – it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings and soffits over cabinets.