The winter season brings with it many joys: delicious holiday food, roaring fires, and snuggling under a thick blanket on chilly evenings. Unfortunately, this time period also brings with it the potential of serious injuries due to faulty or poorly-functioning space heaters. To help you stay healthy and safe during the winter months, it is important to know how to use space heaters safely.
In this article, we will discuss the top safety tips for using space heaters and why it may be beneficial to install a reliable HVAC unit instead of relying on dangerously faulty heating methods. By doing so, you can stay cozy and warm without risking injury or damage to your home’s structure.
Safety Tips for Using Space Heaters
– Do not place furniture or anything else that can burn within three feet of a heater. This ensures adequate room around the appliance in case a fire starts, allowing it to spread out rather than engulfing nearby objects due to limited air exposure.
– Never leave children or pets unsupervised near a space heater. This ensures that they do not touch the device and become injured or interfere with its functionality, for example, by placing obstructions in front of the appliance’s air intake vents.
– Avoid using older heating units with frayed cords, damaged switches, loose plugs, unstable bases, etc. These problems are often caused by age rather than regular use and can lead to fires if they are not repaired or replaced entirely before being used again.
– Ensure that there is adequate ventilation around the unit so that it does not overheat while still emitting heat (i.e., don’t place it too close to furniture). Also, be sure to give your heater plenty of time to cool down before attempting to store it.
– Keep the unit at least three feet away from bedding, drapes, furniture, etc., so that you do not become too hot while resting or sleeping. Ensure that there is adequate circulation around the space heater so that it can function optimally without overheating adjacent objects.
– Additionally, you should aim to only use your heating unit during colder periods instead of keeping it constantly on in an attempt to stay warm. This will prevent the appliance from overworking itself and potentially breaking down prematurely due to excess strain.
Instead of Using Space Heaters, Install a Reliable HVAC Unit
Not everyone has the ability to install their one heating solution for wintertime warmth because they may lack the proper outdoor space, circulation for venting, or budget to purchase and install an HVAC unit. Even if this is true in your situation, however, you should still consider the benefits of upgrading to a reliable heating solution before turning to space heaters.
– For one thing, installing an HVAC unit saves time and money in the long run versus periodically replacing faulty space heaters (which can cause unnecessary damage) or constantly buying firewood for home fires (which can be dangerous).
– Additionally, it poses less of a risk because the device will not need to be adjusted regularly or tampered with according to particular needs; it will simply work when needed. This ensures that you stay comfortable without worrying about constant adjustments or potential hazards.
– It also provides a greater degree of safety with its constant warming power instead of the inability to reheat your home when it becomes cooler after initially being heated.
Finally, installing an HVAC unit can prevent people from excessively using space heaters in order to stay warm. This is because you will already have a reliable heating source that does not need to be constantly adjusted or moved around in order to maximize functionality and warmth levels. By doing so, you avoid dangerous overheating (and other risks) associated with frequently touching or moving your heater unit, which could cause serious accidents if precautions are not taken.
Space Heaters vs. HVAC: Learn the Facts to Stay Safe This Winter
The best way to safeguard your home during the winter months is by installing a reliable HVAC unit that you can use for warmth instead of relying on faulty space heaters. By doing so, you will stay safe from potential fire hazards and other risks associated with frequent usage or improper installation. You also won’t have to worry about constantly adjusting or moving your heating unit to keep warm, so there’s less room for error.
The main differences between space heaters and HVACs include:
– Space heaters are less reliable because they tend to break down more frequently or cause fires, whereas HVAC units provide complete reliability from start to finish.
– Space heaters require constant adjustment and movement to keep other objects warm, whereas an HVAC system does not require as much user input for it to work optimally.
– Using a space heater poses a higher risk of overheating your home if the device is left on for too long or frequently moved. In contrast, an HVAC unit heats your entire property equally without any hot spots/cold spots, which could lead to serious safety hazards.
– HVAC units are more costly to install but will eventually save you money on energy bills and potential repairs in the long run, whereas space heaters will have to be replaced or fixed more frequently.
– If you have children, elderly family members, or pets, then it is crucial that they stay away from any exposed heating unit (space heater or HVAC system) because their curiosity could easily lead to serious injury.
Our team at Austin AC has years of experience with heating and cooling systems and is happy to provide you with a free quote on any service. For additional information regarding how to stay warm this winter using an HVAC unit instead of space heaters, please read our other articles for valuable tips and tricks. You can also contact us directly if you need professional advice for installation or troubleshooting services.