Heater Safety 101 - Clearances, GFCI, Don't Do's

Whether indoors or outdoors, heaters provide the necessary heat to keep people warm. During the end of the year, especially in the winter, most people start using heaters frequently as a common heat source.

Unfortunately, there are several hazards associated with using heaters such as fires, electrical shock and monoxide poisoning. Accidents can occur from both electrical and non-electrical heaters. Most of these hazards are preventable by following the manufacturer's instructions.

In this blog, we offer a heater safety 101 guide to help you stay safe. After reading, you will know more about heating safety and the proper way to use the heaters. Read below to learn more about how you can stay safe with your heaters this winter!

As said above, there are fire safety hazards that are associated with heaters. Some of these common hazards include:

Knowing where heaters go is important to prevent fire and other hazards from happening. The clearance is the required safe distance for a heater to install away from walls, ceilings, furniture, or fabrics.

Clearance

Knowing the correct clearance for heating equipment is important in helping prevent fires and keeping the best performance. Optimal airflow, lower potential for heat damage, and safe operation are all positives that stem from proper clearance.

The different types of heating systems determine the clearances of each heater. The graph shows the different levels of each.

Follow the instructors’ manual when installing your heater. Many small heaters can plug into regular GFCIs, however, most larger units require hardwiring to accommodate the power flow.

For example, a space heater with 120V can plug into a regular GFCI. However, larger heaters like baseboard heaters installed into the electrical system require a GFCI circuit breaker.

Eaton Wiring’s 20A TR & WR Slim Self-Test GFCI is great for cord and plug heaters! The GFCI offers a self-test feature and is both tamper and weather resistant. This GFCI is perfect to use to prevent outages!

Want more GFCI options? Discover our wide range of GFCI Outlets at HomElectrical today!

While heaters are helpful to stay warm, there are some things to avoid. These include:

1. Leaving items (clothing) on the electric space heaters
2. Plugging space heaters into an extension cord
3. Leaving the any form of heater unattended
4. Leaving any heater on high
5. Using an oven to heat your home

While some of these actions may seem normal, they can cause serious damage to homes and offices. Misinformation about heaters are the leading cause of home fires and damages.

During winter months, many residents and commercial sites can feel the impact of heating dead zones. Dead zones are areas that get no, or inadequate, heating from a buildings heating system.

To help with this, you can suggest the purchase of multiple Qmark's 8530/17060 BTU/H Garage Unit Heater in the space.

By suggesting clients to add heaters, you will increase profits! By adding heaters to your project, you will see just how fast you can sell them during the winter months!

If you identify that poor insulation is the cause, you can add-on insulation installation as a service. This can add to your profit potential and increase trust with your clients. Identify any other issues in the space that can cause dead zones such as

• blocked airflow
• dirty filters
• damaged thermostats
• incorrect system size

Where reasonable, offer your services as solutions to any issues identified in your inspection.

Heaters help keep warm air inside during the winter months. However, it is important to understand the safety guidelines before using them. We recommend researching heaters for the best ways to heat your home.

Don’t miss out on our Winter Promo which ends January 31st. We're offering energy efficient kickspace heaters and other items to help stay warm this winter!