Every winter, we hear of homes burning and people getting burned or worse due to a fire in their homes – often caused by leaving a heater on. Experienced electricians such as Electrician Perth Experts can provide sound advice over the media each time the weather turns colder. Yet, people don’t notice it enough or fall asleep before they have time to turn their heater off.
The trouble is that nighttime and early morning are the coldest parts of the winter, so that is when heaters are set to high and left on. Here are some tips on staying healthy and warm without being at risk of having the house burn down.
- Choosing a safe type of heater with a thermostat is good, as is the kind that won’t roll over.
- Teach children safety procedures with heaters, such as not covering the top, leaving paper close, and not sitting too close to them.
- Never leave a plug-in heater going overnight. Snuggle into a rug and turn the heater off if you feel sleepy.
- Always keep heaters away from drapes, clothes and sofas that could catch fire.
- If you have carpet, get your carpet cleaned professionally regularly and keep the heater off long piles that may get too close to the elements.
- Toddlers can do anything without realising the harm, so if you have a floor heater in the bathroom, ensure the cord from it is not long enough to allow it to reach the bathtub if picked up and thrown.
- Keep cords from kettles and toasters away from other heat sources on the bench.
- Never use radiant heaters where there are toddlers; fan heaters are safer.
- Always use fake plugs to fill power point holes so toddlers are not drawn to play with those interesting little holes.
- Make sure pets don’t scratch at or chew on electric cords that are on the floor.
- Toddlers also tend to go through the chewing stage, so watch them like a hawk. Better still, put the cords up out of reach.
- Don’t use electric blankets where a child still wets the bed.
- Keep the heater out of walkways. Instead, situate it where children don’t need to step over it. Close to the wall is good so long as no curtains are above it.
- Don’t run a heater from an extension cord leading to a double adaptor.
- Install a reverse cycle air conditioner instead and save on the cost of heating.
Once you realise your heater could be a source of danger, it will make you more aware of safety measures that should be taken to ensure you and your family survive the winter cold.