Marylynne Pitz
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Frigid temperatures are sure to return soon, and when they do many Pittsburghers will use space heaters to keep heat flowing in some of the chillier rooms in their homes.
The good news for consumers is that the new generation of space heaters are safer, shutting off automatically if they are tipped over by an adult, child or pet. Newer space heaters also provide more consistent heat and come in different shapes -- round, flat screens, baseboard style and towers.
But fire experts know all too well that the major mistake consumers make in using space heaters is not giving their appliance enough, well, space.
“Most space heater fires are typically due to the improper use of the appliance. That’s just my experience,” said Darryl Jones, a firefighter for 22 years and chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire. “People have space heaters too close to furniture or bedding or curtains.”
That kind of carelessness spells disaster. Each year, portable heating equipment causes an average of 4,200 fires in U.S. homes. Those blazes are the cause of nearly 125 deaths, 375 injuries and $69.8 million in property loss, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Not surprisingly, January and February are the peak months for fires caused by portable heaters.
The people at greatest risk for dying in fires, Chief Jones said, are children under the age of 14 and people age 65 or older. To that end, the city’s fire department has teamed with EMS staff to educate local seniors about fire safety and avoiding other household hazards.
Two newer space heaters received high ratings in the October 2007 issue of Consumer Reports. The Honeywell Low Profile Electric Convection Heater, which sells for $60, was rated a best buy (best value for the money). The heater is best for whole-room heating and is quiet. Its model number is HZ-519.
The Holmes Quartz Tower, model number HQH319, sells for $60 and is best for spot heating. Consumer Reports also rated it a best buy, noting that the device offers excellent temperature control and 750-watt and 1,500-watt settings.
If you are shopping for a space heater, consider the five options of ceramic, baseboard, fan-forced, radiator or quartz.
Ceramic heaters are good for sun rooms, workshops and small offices. Baseboard-style heaters are excellent for larger rooms such as basements or family rooms. Like ceramic heaters, fan-forced heaters create currents of warm air and can be used in bedrooms, offices and workshops.
Radiator-style space heaters provide ambient heat and simulate a traditional home radiator. This style is good in basements and family rooms.
Quartz heaters provide quick, focused heating that warm you instead of the air around you. They are best used in workshops and basements.
Consumer Reports also tested two propane-fueled space heaters and two kerosene-fueled heaters. None of the models tested fared well for safety. The magazine suggested that during a winter power outage, you might use one to keep water pipes from freezing in an uninsulated basement.
Fires also occur when consumers use the wrong fuel for kerosene heaters. Chief Jones recalled a particular incident from his days as a firefighter in Aliquippa.
“They couldn’t find kerosene, so they used gasoline. They couldn’t turn it off. It just had a real high burn. More carbon monoxide was put out, and it heated so much that it set itself on fire.”
Paul Reichenbach, a public education information specialist with the state fire commissioner in Harrisburg, said one of the biggest mistakes consumers make is not following instructions.
“There’s a booklet of instructions, but people never read that. They throw it away with the box,” Mr. Reichenbach said, adding that this is not like assembling a child’s toy at Christmas.
All portable fuel-burning devices, including kerosene heaters, share one disadvantage: “They all generate carbon monoxide. If it’s not vented properly, it’s going to build up and cause problems.”
Be especially careful if your space heater lacks a shut-off device.
“Some of the older models don’t have them. You’ve got a nasty fire on the carpet” if your space heater lacks this feature, Mr. Reichenbach said.
Keep space heaters away from foot traffic in your home.
“Putting it in the center of the living-room floor radiates heat in all directions, but you have to walk around it,” he said.
Mr. Reichenbach recommends placing a space heater on a fireplace hearth and keeping it 36 inches from both walls. If you don’t have a fireplace, you can buy a concrete block or a large stainless-steel heating pad. Those items can be purchased at fireplace stores.
“Keep all the furniture away from it. Flammable material does not have to come into contact with a space heater to ignite. You put it right next to the couch, keep that thing cranked up and, eventually, your couch is going to ignite,” Mr. Reichenbach said.
Never refuel your kerosene heater inside your home or garage.
“Take it outside. Don’t do it until the heating device has completely cooled off. Shut it off and let it sit until you can touch it without feeling warm. As long as it retains heat, there is a potential for those fumes to come in contact with that heat still in the heater and start a flash fire,” he said.
“It doesn’t necessarily need an open flame.”
Copyright 2008 P.G. Publishing Co.