A portable heater is one of the easiest ways to take the chill off a home office, bedroom or living room without turning up the whole house. But heaters need a little respect: placed too close to furniture, plugged into the wrong outlet or left running unattended, they can become a fire hazard. These ten simple rules help you enjoy the warmth safely.
Before you buy
1. Look for built-in safety features. Choose a heater with an automatic tip-over switch, which shuts it off if it's knocked over, and overheat protection, which turns it off if internal parts get too hot. A cool-touch exterior is a bonus in homes with children or pets.
2. Check for a safety certification mark. A label from a recognized testing laboratory — such as UL, ETL or CSA — shows the heater has been tested to safety standards.
3. Match the heater to the room. A heater that's too small will run constantly; one that's too big wastes energy. Check the manufacturer's recommended room size before you choose.
Setting it up
4. Follow the three-foot rule. Keep at least three feet of clear space around the heater — away from curtains, bedding, sofas, paper, clothing and anything else that can burn.
5. Plug it directly into a wall outlet. Heaters draw a lot of power. Never plug one into an extension cord or power strip, and don't run the cord under rugs or carpets where heat can build up and damage can go unnoticed.
6. Place it on a flat, hard, level surface. Keep it on the floor — not on furniture, tables or thick carpet — and out of busy walkways where it could be knocked over.
Using it every day
7. Turn it off when you leave or go to sleep. A space heater should never run unattended. Switch it off and unplug it when you leave the room or head to bed.
8. Keep kids and pets at a safe distance. Teach children to stay away, and make sure pets can't brush against the heater or knock it over.
9. Inspect it regularly. Check the cord and plug for fraying, cracks or scorch marks before each season. If the plug or outlet feels hot to the touch, stop using the heater and have it checked.
- Dry clothes, towels or shoes
- Warm bedding or thaw pipes
- Heat a bathroom or other wet area, unless the model is specifically designed for it
Back it up with the right alarms
10. Make sure your home is protected. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas, and test them monthly. Keep a fire extinguisher where you can reach it quickly. If you use any fuel-burning heater — such as kerosene or propane — make sure the room is ventilated as the manufacturer directs and install carbon monoxide alarms. Electric heaters don't produce carbon monoxide, but a CO alarm is still a smart addition to any home with gas appliances.
Used with a little care, a portable heater is a safe, affordable way to stay warm. Keep the space around it clear, plug it straight into the wall, never leave it running unattended — and enjoy a cozy season.
