How To Use Space Heaters Safely During Cold Missouri Winters

Florissant homeowners know firsthand just how cold Missouri winters get and how important it is to stay warm during the winter months. Many St. Louis-area residents rely on space heaters to keep their living spaces warm, and while space heaters are an affordable and efficient way to stay warm, they pose some safety concerns.

Without proper use and safety measures, space heaters can lead to electrical fires. That’s why at the Black Jack Fire Protection District, we want to teach Missouri residents how to safely use space heaters to warm their homes, prevent fire hazards and keep themselves and their loved ones warm and safe this chilly season.

What You Need To Know About Space Heater Fire Prevention

At Black Jack Fire Protection District, it is our priority to help the residents of Florissant, MO, and the surrounding communities keep warm and safe this winter season. That starts by outlining these easy-to-understand tips on how to use space heaters safely and prevent the risk of electrical fires.

Important Safe Heating Tips for Florissant Residents

Keep the heater at a safe distance—it’s crucial that homeowners place their space heaters a minimum distance of three feet away from furniture, bedding and all other flammable items in their home.
Turn off when you’re not in the room—leaving a space heater unattended is inadvisable. That’s why we recommend that any time you need to leave the house or the room where the space heater is positioned, you switch it off.
Plug directly into a wall outlet—because of the risk of causing an electrical fire, space heaters should always plug directly into a wall outlet, since they can overheat a power cord or surge protector.
Check that all smoke detectors are working—smoke detectors are your first line of defense in a fire, providing homeowners with ample time to either respond or evacuate from a fire. We recommend performing routine checks on your smoke detectors or, if you do not have smoke detectors in your home, installing at least one on each level of your home.
Choose heaters with built-in safety features—we strongly recommend that before Florissant residents purchase a space heater that they check to make sure it is UL or ETL certified and comes equipped with safety measures like tip-over shut off and overheat protection.
Educate your family members—informing older adults and young children in your home about the location of the space heater and that it is hot can prevent injury and significantly reduce the risk of it being accidentally knocked over or left unattended.

Safe Heating Is Home Fire Prevention

While heating equipment like space heaters, electric fireplaces or electric blankets is one of the leading causes of home fires, using the helpful tips and tricks outlined above will help keep you, your home, and your loved ones safe and warm this winter. Practicing safe heating habits is critical in preventing electrical fires and protecting your home from smoke or fire damage. By prioritizing safe heating this winter, you can ensure that you and your loved ones stay warm and safe all winter long.

Learn More About How To Heat Your Home Safely With Black Jack Fire Protection District

Have more questions about how to safely heat your living spaces and prevent the risk of electrical fires? Our learning center is full of helpful articles outlining all the latest fire safety measures and tips, or you can always contact Black Jack Fire Protection District to learn more about how best to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home from fires all-year round.