With the coming of autumn and cooler weather, you might be tempted to pull out that trusty space heater to warm you up before cranking up the furnace. It’s a great way to add a little coziness to a room without having to heat the entire house – however briefly, you can substantially cut your home heating costs.

If not used correctly, however, a space heater can put you at risk of a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, heating equipment is the second most common cause of home fires, of which 44% are started by space heaters. So, what’s the good news? By following a few simple precautions, you can continue to enjoy the warmth a space heater provides without jeopardizing home or family safety.

Space heaters and textiles don’t mix. Maintain a three-foot safety zone between your space heater and flammable material like bedding, curtains, and clothing.

Don’t run the cord under area rugs. You might be tempted to tuck the cord under an area rug to prevent a trip hazard but doing so can cause the cord to crimp or fray beneath the rug and spark a fire.

Don’t leave pets or children unattended. A curious child or pet may get too near the space heater or knock it over. When leaving the room – even for a minute – turn the unit off.

Don’t leave the heater running unattended. Even if no pets or children are present, switch the space heater off before leaving the room; it could tip over, overheat, or short circuit while you’re gone.

Never use an extension cord. A space heater’s high-power demand can cause an extension cord to overheat or short circuit. Always plug a space heater directly into a wall outlet. And don’t plug anything else into that outlet while the space heater is on.

Space heaters don’t belong on furniture. An accidental bump can send the space heater to the floor where it can become a burn or fire hazard.

Don’t place space heaters on carpeting. The safest place for a space heater is a solid surface like tile, vinyl, laminate, or wood flooring.

Space heaters and water don’t mix. Resist the urge to warm up the bathroom while you shower or bathe – unless the space heater is specifically designed to be used in humid environments.

Don’t leave a space heater on overnight. Use the heater to get yourself all nice and toasty before bed, then turn it off for the night.

Don’t use an old space heater. Today’s heaters are designed with added safety in mind, including an auto shut-off should the heater tip over, get too hot, or run for too long.

Make sure your unit is certified. Check the packaging for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL) label to be sure the unit you purchase has passed rigorous safety tests.

Don’t place the space heater in a high traffic area, doorway, or exit route. Position the space heater at least a few feet to the side of any doorway or high traffic area to prevent trips and falls, especially in case of an emergency.

Here’s something else to keep in mind: space heaters heat people and other objects, not spaces. That’s another reason to never leave it on when you leave the room. What does heat people and open spaces, however, is your furnace. That’s just one reason to keep it in top working order with annual preventive maintenance performed by the home heating and cooling pros at C&D Cooling & Heating. Contact us today to schedule service and make your winter just a bit more tolerable.