Avoid these when using an electric heater

If you use electric heaters in your home, garage, or any space where you spend time during the winter, you should read and listen to these six tips to avoid overturning, fire, and burns.

Even if you live somewhere with central heating, sometimes it is pleasant to turn on the heater to warm up a little more, especially after ventilating the home. Although modern electric heaters are much safer than earlier versions, care should still be taken when using them, as they produce very high temperatures.

For the safe use of an electric heater, everyone should follow these six simple instructions:

Do not ignore usage instructions and warning labels

- Before you even turn on the new electric heater, carefully study the labels on it and warning labels to familiarize yourself with the potential dangers or safety advice specific to this model - advises the International Electric Safety Foundation (ESFI).

Do not put it in a place where people move a lot

Electric heaters are most effective when heating a small enclosed space, such as a bathroom or bedroom. But heating a space where people move a lot can be very dangerous, especially if you have children and pets. You don't want anyone tripping and falling, and/or getting burned.

You have acquired the strongest electric heater

When it comes to electric heaters, larger does not mean that heaters are even better. Instead, it is recommended to purchase an electric heater that is designed to heat the room where you plan to use it, so buying anything larger than the proposed heater is essentially just a higher cost of money and energy.

It is plugged into the current using an extension cord

Be sure to plug the electric heater directly into the socket on the wall (if it is possible only it should be plugged into that socket) instead of an extension cord or switching cable, which has been proven to overheat and cause a fire. But if the extension cord can not be avoided, use the shortest possible cable that allows you to heat the desired room.

Ensure that at least in the radius of 10 feet of the heater there is nothing flammable

- In addition to keeping them away from an area where there are a lot of people, also make sure that you do not place an electric heater at a distance of three meters from things that are highly flammable - such as artificial pine, old newspapers, tablecloths or clothes - warns ESFI.

Instead, always place the electric heater on flat clean surfaces, avoiding places such as cabinets, tables, furniture or carpets, which can overheat and cause a fire or cause easier overturning. If possible, purchase a unit with a safety switch when overturning, which automatically turns off the heater if it crashes.

You leave the heater on unattended

When you’re not using the heater, it is recommended to disconnect it from the socket and to always be in the room while the heater is running, according to Lifehacker.